Police on manhunt for armed men who killed Lebanese man

The Police in Tema have mounted a manhunt for four armed men who shots dead a 54-year-old Lebanese and robbed him of GHC200,000 Wednesday afternoon in another criminal incident caused Ghanaians to question Ghana’s security response.

Ahmed Safiadeen, a cashier of Delta Agro Company, was driving to his office having cashed the amount from a bank at the Tema Heavy Industrial Area, when he was shot at several times before being robbed.

The money, according to the Police, was meant for salaries of workers and other factory expenses of the company.

The incident comes 24 hours after some armed men stormed a motorcycle dealer shop at the North Industrial Area in Accra Tuesday. Amidst firing of gunshots, they managed to steal the previous day’s sales of the company and escape by switching vehicles.

A statement issued Wednesday afternoon on the Tema incident said the victim after the bank transaction was on his way to the office in his Toyota Corolla Saloon car with registration number GN 1174-12, when he was suddenly accosted by four armed men a few meters from his work.

“The robbers fired several gunshots into his vehicle and robbed him off the money he had withdrawn and sped off in a four-wheel drive,” the statement signed by ASP Joseph Benefo Darkwah stated.

It said the victim was immediately rushed to the Rapheal Hospital in Tema but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body, the Police said, has since been conveyed to the 37 Military Hospital for preservation and autopsy.

It assured that the Tema Regional Police Command is currently on a manhunt for the four armed men.

There have been spontaneous criminal activities, mostly armed robbery, across the country since January this year leading to some deaths; a situation that has put many Ghanaians in fear.

Over 20 forex bureau and mobile money operators have in the last two months been robbed in Accra and Tema alone but Tuesday’s broad day light robbery in Accra has caused the public to criticize Ghana Police.

But the Interior Minister Ambrose Dery has rejected the criticisms of security failure in Ghana, stating the security agencies are in full control of affairs despite the recent upsurge in criminal activities, especially armed robberies.

READ: We’re in control of robberies – Interior Minister declares

Describing the recent spate of armed robbery attacks in the country, particularly in Accra as “regrettable”, Mr. Dery assured Ghanaians that the Police are on the beat following up on leads.

“…Clearly, we haven’t lost control at all; what we’re doing is making sure that we follow the leads”, he told 3FM’s Kwakye Afreh-Nuamah Wednesday on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 28th February Christiansburg crossroads in Accra.