Police arrests two suspected armed robbers in Western Region

Sekondi (W/R), Aug. 15, GNA — The Western Regional Police Command has arrested two suspected armed robbers who have robbed a number of people and terrorized other residents in the region.

They are Solomon Blay and Prince Antwi (alias Kwame Saah) whiles Isaac Blay and the leader of the gang, Kweku Appiah, are on the run.


Addressing a press conference at Sekondi on Monday, Western Regional Police Commander, DCOP Ransford Moses Ninson, said stringent efforts were being made to arrest the runaway robbers.


He said the two robbers arrested would be remanded in police custody for two weeks to assist the police in their investigations to track the escaped robbers.


The Regional Police Commander appealed to the public to give valuable information to the police to help them in their investigations.


DCOP Ninson indicated that following the spate of robberies, Police intensified day and night patrols with the view of bringing the culprits to book.

He added that the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis was divided into eight zones with snap checks conducted in each zone to ensure effective policing.


The Regional Police Commander said there were joint Police/ Military patrols where 10 soldiers from the Second Infantry Battalion (2BN) joined 20 police officers for patrol duties.


He, however, complained about inadequate vehicles for patrolling saying most of the vehicles had broken down with only four vehicles functioning.


DCOP Ninson said the Command had appealed to the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to support them with vehicles and other logistics to enable them to conduct efficient policing.


“We have also held a series of meetings with some of the oil companies and other corporate organizations in the region to support us combat crime,” he added.

He commended the Regional Coordinating Council for donating one vehicle to the Command and appealed for more support from all stakeholders to ensure efficient and effective policing and clamp down on the spate of armed robbery in the region.


Recounting some of the robberies undertaken by the robbers, DCOP Ninson said on May 28, 2011, at about 0940 hours, Joshua Dadzie, a banker and Olivia Osei, both residents at South Kweikuma Estates, reported that the robbers attacked them at their residence and robbed them of their valuables.


The robbers continued robbing residents at Anaji, Harmony Street, Regimanuel Estates, Tarkwa, Atuabo, Funko and other places in the region and stole money and other valuable household items worth thousands of Ghana Cedis, he added.


He said some of the items stolen included unregistered Daewoo 4x4 vehicle, Samsung computers, Toshiba laptop, mobile phones; Samsung 27 inch flat screen TV set, wristwatch and jewelleries.


On August 10, 2011, at about 0300 hours, the police received a distress call from Funko near Apowa that some armed robbers had besieged the town and were robbing the residents.

DCOP Ninson noted that police proceeded to the place and met the suspect Solomon Blay in the bush with his dress soaked with water.


When police confronted him, he gave some conflicting statements that; he had gone to smoke Indian hemp and later went to the bush to defecate.


A police search on him revealed a blacksmith modified AK 47 assault rifle with two live ammunitions.


Upon interrogation, he said the weapon belonged to Kweku Appiah and mentioned Isaac Blay as a senior brother who introduced Appiah to him as a friend and Prince Antwi as their driver who drove them for robbery escapades.


Suspect Solomon Blay escorted the police to Tamso near Tarkwa where Prince Antwi was also arrested.

A police search in Solomon Blay’s house at Dompim near Tarkwa revealed dismantled Opel Astra parts believed to have been stolen.