17 armed robbers nabbed in Volta Region in two months

Ho, Aug 18, GNA - The police in the Volta Region have within the last two months busted five armed robbery gangs involving 17 people, Mr David Ampah-Bennin, Volta Regional Commander told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Ho on Tuesday. He said the latest police clampdown was along the Hohoe- Nkwanta Highway on August 11, this year, when 15 officers, including detectives combed the forests for hours to nab five highway robbers, who had waylaid and robbed travellers of their valuables, including mobile phones and money.

The Regional Police Commander said six others were arrested at Mepe in the North-Tongu District, two at Sogakope in the South-Tongu District, two in the Ho Municipal Area and two on the Nkwanta-Dambai Highway

Mr Ampah-Bennin said the police was working out ways to combat highway robbery on the Hohoe-Nkwanta Highway, which is in a forest area and close to Togo. He said the modus-operandi of the robbers in the Nkwanta area was to crossover from Togo into Ghana overnight, erect barricades, rob passengers, mainly traders and escape back to Togo. Mr Ampah-Bennin said in this particular case the police upon a tip-off managed to trail the robbers through the bushes to their temporary cottage-sanctuary.

He said the police now encamp at strategic areas throughout the region in readiness to move against robbers and other law breakers. Mr Ampah-Bennin pleaded with the public to report the movement of suspicious people along the highways and in communities promptly, for police action. Mr Ampah-Bennin said there was also the need for early relays of crime in adjoining regions, especially car snatchings and armed robberies, to enable his men to move into position for possible arrests.