Armed robbers strike at Akwatia

Armed robbers at dawn on Tuesday attacked a prominent diamond and gold dealer at Akwatia and took away cash, gold and diamonds worth several millions of cedis.

The robbers, numbering five and wielding pistols, forced their way into the house of Kwame Frempong, popularly known as "Pippim" at about 03:00 hours. Frimpong told newsmen that the robbers tied his watchman after threatening him with death if he should shout or make any "false move".

They then entered and searched through drawers and took away over 150 million cedis, some dollars and pounds sterling, a quantity of diamonds and gold.

He said the foreign currencies were in his brief case, which the robbers took away.

He explained that he withdrew over 90 million cedis from banks in Accra for the payment of a large quantity of diamonds he had purchased from a number of people the previous day.

He arrived from Accra on Monday evening around 17:00 hours and his wife, who runs a cold store, had a truck load of fish from Tema being offloaded at about 01:30 hours on Tuesday dawn.

After watching a video film, he decided to retire to bed at around 02:00 hours but about thirty minutes later, he heard his dogs barking and when he called his watchman, there was no response.

Shortly thereafter, he saw the thieves forcing their way into the house, he attempted to shoot at them but the wife advised against it saying it might endanger the lives of the family so he hid the gun.

Frimpong said the robbers, who eventually entered his room, beat him up mercilessly and locked him up in his toilet before searching for the minerals.

After the robbers had left, members of his household freed him and he made a report to the Police.

The Police are investigating the case.