Armed robberies declined dramatically in Accra

Armed robberies in the Greater Accra Region has decline dramatically following the relentless efforts of the Security Agencies.
The incidence of armed robberies in Accra went down to 18 in November compared to 31 for the same period last year.

By December 22 only seven robberies had been recorded compared to 52 in December 2002 and they were mainly car-snatching incidents unlike the previous aggressive attacks in homes and workplaces.

"The Police Administration is doing well in combating armed violence and would work to the expectation of the public", Assistant Commissioner of Police, Nathaniel Kofi Boakye said at a media briefing in Accra on Monday.

The briefing followed the arrest of three notorious armed robbers by the Police last Wednesday.
He said 163 robberies had taken place from January to date while 176 robbers have been arrested, adding that the same gangs were responsible for multiple attacks.
He said most of the cases were yet to be prosecuted at the law courts and that efforts were afoot to do so.
Mr Boakye, who is the Regional Police Commander, appealed to the public and institutions in the criminal justice system not to look at the inadequacies of the Police as grounds for the release of criminals but assist in the fight against violent crime.
He asked the public to continue to volunteer information to the Police, which, he said, had facilitated their work.
In an earlier briefing, Chief Superintendent Bright Oduro, Greater Accra Regional Crime Officer, told newsmen that two of the three suspects Nicolas Neequaye Quartey alias Cobra and Kamatu Acheampong were arrested at dawn of December 17 at Dansoman while in the process of attempting to rob a forex bureau operator.
He said the suspects were carrying a sub machine gun with three magazines containing 18 rounds of ammunition and two German Pistols. Mr Oduro said upon interrogation the two suspects admitted they were going rob the bureau operator, adding that two of the suspects by name Hitter and Taller alias Last Day managed to escaped during the operation to apprehend them.
He said these operatives until recently were land guards operating in the Gbawe/Ablekuma areas.
The Crime Officer said the three persons were mentioned in the August 25 murders of three other land guards, who were tortured and murdered at Gbawe and Ablekuma in what Police believed was a clash of gangs of land guards.
He said Hitter, who was a militiaman, managed to secure the sub machine gun, which they used in their operations. In a related development the Police have nabbed another notorious robber Jordan Clottey alias Mawutor Wilson but popularly known as Agbana.
Mr Oduro said Agbana, a boxer, had been mentioned in robberies at the Kaneshie First Light, Abeka Lapaz, High Street; General Post Office and Kwashieman Overhead areas, associated with heavy traffic build up. He said his modus operandi was to snatch bags and then brandish cutlasses to scare off his victims.