Mine robbery suspect grabbed by the police

A suspected member of a robbery gang that attacked and robbed some small-scale miners at Omanadwaaye in the Amansie West District has been arrested and is being held by the Manso-Nkwanta police.

Ernest Kweku, together with two others on the run, reportedly seized a large quantity of gold ore at gun point from their victims on November 14.

The eight miners had just closed from the day’s business at about 1830 hours when the robbers struck, drew guns and forcibly took away the precious mineral, concealed in two containers.

Police Chief Superintendent Peter Baba, the Ashanti Regional Crime Officer, told a press briefing that a day after the crime, the gang engaged the services of taxi driver to ferry them to Manso-Abore.

He said the driver’s alertness led to the arrest of the suspect but his colleagues escaped.

The driver noticed in the course of the journey that guns were hidden in a sack the men were carrying and became suspicious.

Chief Supt Baba said on reaching the nearest community, Manso-Akropong, he pulled up and raised the alarm, as the robbers jumped out and took to their heels but they were pursued by the people and Kweku was arrested with two guns – a pump action gun and a single barreled gun.

The suspect was handed over to the police at Manso-Nkwanta, he said, adding that, they were doing everything to arrest the others believed to be in possession of the gold ore.