Suspected armed robber killed in shoot-out

Kumasi, April 17, GNA - Parents of Kwame Opoku alias Kwame Isaac, now deceased, are seeking explanation from the police in Kumasi as to why their son who they believed to be innocent was shot and killed in a shoot-out between suspected armed robbers and the police. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP Frank Adu-Poku, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, revealed this to newsmen in Kumasi on Tuesday.

DCOP Adu-Poku explained that on April 8 this year, police on their normal night patrol duties at Santasi to curb frequent crimes in the metropolis intercepted a taxicab with registration number AS 3681 Y and ordered the driver to stop but he failed to obey the police. He said the police, who had been informed that the occupants of a taxicab had attempted to rob some people, became suspicious and gave the taxi a hot chase.

The Regional Police Commander stressed that the occupants who were armed started firing at the police whilst the police also returned fire, adding that in the case, Kwame Poku, the driver of the taxicab was shot and killed

Realising that the driver had been killed, the robbers bolted and when the taxi was searched, locally manufactured pistols, three knives, a pair of scissors, screwdriver and a helmet were found. He said the police were still investigating the incident. Meanwhile, Opoku's body had been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) mortuary for autopsy, DCOP Adu-Poku added. In a related development, the police in Kumasi have arrested a 43-year-old woman for defrauding 350 women of 100 million cedis. DCOP Adu-Poku said Afua Birago, who claimed to be a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) allegedly promised to give the women loans.

He said Birago succeeded in collecting the amount from the women living at Moshie Zongo, Old Tafo and Buokrom, all suburbs of Kumasi and went into hiding.

A formal report was made to the police and Birago and her two accomplices, Kofi Antwi, 31, and Kwadwo Braimah, 42, were arrested.