Dr Fosu Gyabaa fears that Forex Bureax business is at risk of collapse should the situation escalate
The Ghana Association of Forex Bureaux says its members are living in constant fear following incessant armed robbery attacks on them in Accra and Tema metropolis.
This year alone, over 20 forex bureaux have so far been attacked by armed robbers in the Accra and Tema metropolis in the Greater Accra Region.
While most of the robbers carried out their attack at night when the operators had closed, a number of them, on the other hand, displayed sheer bravado by holding operators hostage in broad daylight and made away with their safes containing cash.
List of forex bureaux robbed this year
The list of forex bureaux robbed this year includes Emmajets Forex Bureau at Baatsonaa; Shan Forex Bureau, near Kasapreko on the Spintex Road; Forbes Forex Bureau, near Baatsonaa Total; and Golden Expression Forex Bureau, located at Community 18 Junction on the Spintex Road.
Others are Emmajets Forex Bureau, which is opposite Papaye Fast Foods on the Spintex Road; Greda Estates Forex Bureau; and Emmajets Forex Bureau branch, near University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
The rest are Nabrim Forex Bureau, also on the Spintex Road; Shell Filling Station Forex Bureau on the Spintex Road; Cashpoint Forex Bureau; Three Saint Forex Bureau; Hijaz Forex Bureau at Achimota; Macowas Forex Bureau, on the Spintex Road; Kedge Forex Bureau at Adjiringanor; and RASS B Forex Bureau in Dansoman.
Robbers stole unspecified amounts
The armed robbers succeeded in making away with unspecified amounts of money, including foreign currencies, but affected operators are reluctant to disclose how much they have lost.
Robbers took away safes
This they did by taking away the safes in several of the attacked forex bureaux, with the robbers seizing cash in some situations.
Broad daylight robbery at Mintason Forex Bureau
Four masked armed robbers last Tuesday attacked Mintason Forex Bureau at Community One, Tema, in broad daylight and made away with money.
The suspects were said to have held the operators of the forex bureau hostage amidst firing of gunshots, before robbing them of both local and foreign currencies in an operation which lasted less than 30 minutes.
GH?50,000 robbery at Kedze Forex Bureau
Fear engulfed business owners at Trassaco Junction, a suburb of East Legon in Accra, after an attack on Kedze Forex Bureau on Thursday, February 15, 2018.
The robbers raided the bureau in Rambo style and made away with over GH?50,000.
The amount included $1,000 they seized from a foreign national whom they tracked to the place, after which they dashed off on two motorbikes.
Operators fear collapse of business
The President of Ghana Association of Forex Bureaux (GAFORB), Dr Kwasi Fosu Gyabaa, told The Finder that if the situation is not brought under control by the security agencies as soon as possible, it could collapse the industry.
He expressed worry about the impunity with which the robbers operate, to the extent that the robbers return to some of the forex bureaux they attempted robbing without success the first time.
Modus operandi of the robbers
In his view, the modus operandi suggests that it is the same group of robbers that are attacking the forex bureaux.
According to him, in most of the robberies, the suspects come with a van, with the determination to take away the safe.
In some of the cases, he said, the robbers abandon the van when they sense danger of being arrested.
For example, the robbers abandoned vans in robberies at Kedze Forex Bureau at Trassaco Junction and RASS B Forex Bureau in Dansoman.
No arrest so far
Dr Gyabaa noted that all the cases have been reported to the police, but, unfortunately, the police are yet to arrest any suspect in connection with the robberies.
He stated that executives of the association last Friday met with the Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) George Alex Mensah, who advised them to support the police with a reward to bait informers to provide the police with information that could lead to the arrest of the criminals, and they obliged.
He also told The Finder that executives of the association will today meet the Director-General of Operations of Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police Dr George Akuffo Dampare, to deliberate on the situation.
Operators beef up security
The President of Ghana Association of Forex Bureaux said the executives also met and issued some directives to members to protect their businesses.
“Those whose insurance have expired have been advised to renew them.
Also, they have been advised to build concrete around their safe to make it difficult, if not impossible, for robbers to take them away,” he added.
Dr Gyabaa stated that since the police said forex bureaux are soft targets for robbers, members have been advised to beef up security, including the installation of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras.
