The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested six people suspected to be members or associates of an organised armed robbery syndicate operating in the region.

The arrests were made in August 2026 by the Anti Armed Robbery Unit in Kumasi following intelligence gathered by the Police.

The suspects have been identified as Philip Nyarko alias “Kawawa”, Hadi Samed alias “Toronto”, Issahaku Musah alias “Isak”, Suraj Mohammed alias “Baba Nde” also known as “Trouble”, Hadi Abdul Majeed alias “Panie”, and Foster Owusu Afriyie alias “Joe Fraizer”.

According to the Police, preliminary investigations have linked the suspects to reported street robbery incidents at Kaase, Ahinsan Estate, Santasi New Site, Bronikrom, Kwadaso Estate and other areas in the Ashanti Region.

The Police have recovered two motorcycles, two machetes, knives, an iPhone 13, five keypad mobile phones, a laptop and 33 assorted mobile phones believed to be connected to the alleged criminal activities.

Further investigations also led to the arrest of Augustine Agyemang Duah, who is suspected of helping members of the group unlock mobile phones believed to have been stolen.

The Police noted that three of the suspects, Philip Nyarko, Hadi Samed and Abdul Shattar, were previously arrested on December 6, 2025, over allegations of conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted robbery.

They were subsequently arraigned before the Asokwa Circuit Court 1 and granted bail. The case is still pending before the court.

The Police further indicated that some of the suspects allegedly returned to their criminal activities after their release. Abdul Shattar, however, is currently at large.

The Command is pursuing him and five other persons identified as Andy, Umaru, Dauda, Malik and Abdul Farouk, who are also suspected of having links to the syndicate.

The Police have appealed to anyone with information about their whereabouts to contact the authorities and warned the public not to confront or attempt to arrest them.

Investigations are continuing to determine the full extent of the suspects’ involvement, identify other persons connected to the group and recover more stolen property.

The arrested suspects will be processed for court as investigations continue.

The Ashanti Regional Police Command also encouraged people who have lost mobile phones or other property during robbery incidents to contact the Police to help identify the recovered items.

The Command expressed appreciation to the IGP’s Special Operations Team for its operational and investigative support in the ongoing efforts to tackle organised crime in the region.

By: Jacob Aggrey

The Supreme Court has dismissed an application by former Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) Chief Executive Officer, Solomon Asamoah, seeking to stop the ongoing Skytrain trial.

Asamoah, the first accused in the case, had filed a certiorari application at the Supreme Court seeking to quash the High Court’s decision rejecting his submission of no case after the prosecution had closed its case.

He subsequently applied for an interlocutory injunction to prevent the High Court from continuing with the trial until the Supreme Court determined his certiorari application.

Justice Senyo Dzamefe, sitting as a single Justice of the Supreme Court, dismissed the injunction application on Monday after hearing arguments from the parties last Friday.

In his ruling, Justice Dzamefe held that, based on Asamoah’s own affidavit evidence, he had not demonstrated a serious case to be tried.

The court also held that the issues raised by the applicant were matters that could properly be addressed through an appeal.

It further found that the trial judge’s decision to rule on the submission of no case was not an act done without jurisdiction or beyond the court’s jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court also concluded that Asamoah had not demonstrated what irreparable harm he would suffer if the injunction was not granted.

The ruling means the High Court can continue with the Skytrain trial while Asamoah’s certiorari application remains pending.

The High Court has set September 23 as the final extended deadline for the accused persons to file their defence, should they decide to do so.

Meanwhile, the second accused person, former GIIF Board Chairman, Professor Christopher Ameyaw Ekumfi, has filed a fresh application for a stay of proceedings.

The application is scheduled to be heard by the Court of Appeal on September 1.

Asamoah and Prof. Ameyaw Ekumfi are standing trial over allegations that $2 million was paid towards the Skytrain project without the approval of the GIIF board.

By: Jacob Aggrey