Highway robbers bolted with gold worth a million dollars

Accra (Greater 18 Feb '99

Resolute Amansie Limited (RAL), formerly Amansie Resources on Thursday said highway robbers took away more than one million dollars worth of gold when they ambushed a bullion van transporting the precious metal to Accra. Mr William Usmer, head of the risks management unit of the Company, said the robbery took place near Apam Junction, about 40 kilometres west of Accra.

The gold weighing 170 kilograms was being conveyed from the Company's mine at Obotan in Ashanti to the Kotoka International Airport when the robbery occurred. He said the gold was in eight boxes and was being escorted by personnel of West Coast Allied Services Limited (WCAS), a private security agency, which normally handles the company's security. Mr Usmer said his outfit has referred everything concerning the incident to WCAS which would deal with its local allies in the investigations.

The management of WCAS confirmed the robbery saying its personnel were overwhelmed by the "superior number and fire power" of the heavily armed thieves numbering about eight. "A number of shots were fired during the attack. Thankfully, only one minor injury was sustained by a member of the security crew who was hit in the hand by flying shrapnel". The robbery is said to be the first of its kind in the country. The RAL was officially commissioned by the President in February 1998. RAL is a medium-sized mine with an initial investment of 50 million dollars. It is 90 per cent Australian-owned with the remaining 10 per cent being Ghanaian.