Give information on armed robbers and get ? 5m

Kumasi, (Ashanti Region) 20 July '99,

The Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has instituted a five million cedis reward for any person, who provides information that would lead to the arrest of any member of the gang, that broke into the Amansie West Rural Bank at Antoakrom in the Amansie West district.

The gang broke into the bank in the early hours of Sunday.

In addition, the REGSEC would reward any neighbourhood or watchdog committee through whose vigilance armed robbers would be arrested.

A statement issued in Kumasi on Tuesday and signed by Mr Kojo Yankah,

Ashanti Regional Minister, said these were among decisions taken at an extraordinary meeting of the REGSEC, which was attended by Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Minister of National Security.

The REGSEC appealed to the public to bear with the joint military and police exercise in parts of the region.

It said the exercise, which entered its second phase on Tuesday is part of an operation to flush out armed robbers and criminals.

About 50 armed-robbers allegedly raided the Bank and took away the Bank's generator and several millions of cedis.

The robbers armed with pistols and other weapons, fired several warning shots to scare off the residents and held Policemen on duty at the Antoakrom Police Station under siege before breaking into the bank during a heavy downpour.

The Manager of the Bank, Mr George Osei Mensah, told newsmen in Kumasi that the exact amount of money stolen is yet to be ascertained.