Bullion heist: Justice'll be served – Minister

Eastern Regional Minister, Mavis Ama Frimpong, has said that all efforts will be made to arrest all the culprits who attacked and killed a GCB Bank bullion van driver and escaped after arrest in the failed robbery.

Ms Frimpong, while speaking at a meeting with the Regional Security Council on Thursday August 18, also assured residents of safety and called for calm as security officials intensify investigations.

“We want to give the community, leaders, and all stakeholders the assurance that the search continues and we will continue to back the District Security Committee to make sure the law takes its course and will not allow anyone to take the law into his own hands,” she stated.

Meanwhile, two police officers suspected to be involved in the failed robbery have been recaptured.

Lance Corporal Kusi Abrokwah was re-arrested on the morning of Thursday August 18 while the second policeman identified only as Fire was picked up later in the afternoon on the same day at Adoagyiri, a suburb of Nkawkaw.

The two are part of three suspects who escaped while they were being transferred from Nkawkaw as the van transporting them to the Eastern regional police command in Koforidua stopped to refuel.

Earlier police at Donkorkrom fired tear gas and warning shots at demonstrators injuring 15 with two in critical condition at a hospital in the Afram Plains South district.

There was chaos in the area as the residents fled from the police for their dear lives during the mayhem. The demonstrators hit the streets on Thursday, 18 August, to protest against the police in connection with the escape of the two police officers.

Acting Chief of Donkorkrom Nana Mireku Anim, who confirmed the firing of warning shots and tear gas, told Prince Minkah on Class91.3FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Thursday that the shots were fired at the demonstrators as they marched to the police station in the area.

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Afram Plains South, Emmanuel Aboagye Didieye has said he and residents in the area do not trust the police to protect them.

Mr Didieye told Prince Minkah that the police appeared to be colluding with criminals to torment residents.

Speaking to Chief Jerry Forson on Accra100.5FM’s breakfast show Ghana Yenson on the same day, Mr Didieye said he missed the heist by the whiskers, adding that he and his constituents don’t feel safe with the current crop of police officers.

The residents are demanding that the Ghana Police Service send a whole new bunch of police officers to the area.

The botched heist took place on Monday, 15 August. The driver of the van was killed in the incident. A police officer accompanying the van also sustained gunshot wounds.

According to the police in the area, the robbery was foiled following an exchange of gunfire between the police and the robbers. The killed van driver has been identified as David Sarpong. The wounded officer is Mr Frederick Adei.