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Police arrest six suspected members of armed robbery syndicate in Ashanti Region
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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 29th Annual Dagaaba-Frafra Friendly Games have once again demonstrated that sports can be a powerful vehicle for cultural preservation, business networking, friendship and peaceful coexistence.
Held at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra last Saturday, the games brought together members of the two ethnic groups from across Ghana and abroad for a colourful celebration under the theme, “Unity in Diversity: The Dagaaba-Frafra Model for Peaceful Co-existence.”
The event, which has evolved from a friendly football match into a major annual gathering, featured football, volleyball, sack races, lime and spoon, tug-of-peace and a penalty shootout for senior citizens.
At the end of the competitions, the Frafra won four events, while the Dagaaba secured victories in five, with the men’s soccer match ending in a draw.
The Frafra triumphed in the men’s lime and spoon, men’s sack race, women’s sack race and women’s soccer, while the Dagaaba won the women’s lime and spoon, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, women’s tug-of-peace and the senior citizens’ penalty shootout.
However, the games extended far beyond the sporting arena. The stadium grounds and surrounding spaces became a vibrant marketplace, with patrons enjoying and purchasing a variety of traditional foods, drinks and cultural products.
Local delicacies, including TZ, tubaani, bambara beans, pork, guinea fowl, local fowls, dog meat and kosie, were sold alongside traditional alcoholic beverages. Traditional dresses and other culturally inspired items also attracted buyers, turning the gathering into an important platform for small businesses and vendors to make sales while promoting northern Ghanaian culture.
The cultural exchange continued long after the final sporting contests, as patrons remained at the venue to eat, drink, socialise, dance and party well into the night.
In her remarks, the Guest of Honour, Dr Matilda Aberese-Ako, said the gathering represented much more than competition, describing the Dagaaba-Frafra relationship as a historic bond that had evolved into a modern sporting tradition and an instrument for peace.
MTN Ghana has been the headline sponsor for the games for the past 10 years.
By Gordon Wellu
By Gordon Wellu
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MTN Ghana has undertaken a tree-planting exercise at the Chipa Forest Reserve as part of its commitment to protecting the planet and support the restoration of degraded sections of the forest.
The activity forms part of the company’s 2026 Sustainability Month celebration held under the theme “Small Actions: Big Impact,” and its 30th anniversary celebration.
It was held in partnership with the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Rainforest Alliance with MTN Ghana supporting the restoration of approximately two hectares of degraded forest through the planting of 1,666 trees.
Due to the current dry weather conditions, 833 trees were planted during the exercise, with the remaining 833 to be planted when the rain commences.
The exercise brought together MTN employee volunteers, officials from the Forestry Commission and representatives of the Rainforest Alliance, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in driving environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, emphasized the critical role trees play in sustaining life and protecting the environment.
“Trees are essential to human survival and healthy ecosystems. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, regulate temperatures, protect soil, support biodiversity and provide habitats for many species. They also conserve water, reduce erosion and help communities adapt to the effects of climate change,” she said.
The District Manager of the Tema-Ada Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission, Linda Ansah, welcomed MTN Ghana’s support, describing it as a valuable contribution to efforts aimed at restoring degraded sections of the reserve.
The Country Director of the Rainforest Alliance, Nicholas Jengri, also welcomed the partnership and emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
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