Woman in a showdown with robbers

A 54-year-old woman, in the early hours of Wednesday 10 April had a hectic showdown with a gang of men believed to be robbers, at North Kaneshie in Accra. The robbers attempted to pull away a handbag the woman was carrying but she mustered courage and held tightly to it, making it difficult for the robbers to have a field day.

In the end, the woman found herself being dragged on the street for about half-a-kilometre by the robbers who were in a moving vehicle. They succeeded in taking away the handbag which contained ?200,000 and the woman sustained serious injuries. A medical bill of about ?150,000 and eight stitches on her left leg, near the knee, were also left for her to think about.

Madam Beatrice Boateng, also known as Fati, the victim, lives at North Kaneshie Night Market area, a suburb of Accra. A staff of an Accra-based legal firm, the woman met her unfortunate fate in the early hours of that day while standing by the roadside to look for a vehicle to go to her office.

Narrating her ordeal, Madam Fati, wife of Katawere of Daakye Drama Group fame, said her handbag, which contained the amount and other valuables, was hanging on her shoulder while she waited for a vehicle by the roadside. Suddenly, a circle bound tro-tro vehicle passed by her followed by a metallic-blue Tico Saloon car.

She said the car, on reaching the spot where she was standing, slowed down. Suddenly a hand came out of the car and grabbed her bag fiercely. Madam Fati said she held the bag very firmly in an attempt to save it from being taken away by the people in the car.

Realising that the robbers were not ready to let go the bag, even if it would cost them their lives, she desperately attempted to pull it back. In the process, she fell down when the robbers moved the car and found her body being dragged on the street while still holding unto the bag.

Sensing danger, she gave up the fight. Madam Fati said a few seconds later some people came to the scene and rushed her to the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital. She had her wounds stitched, especially those on her left foot close to the knee and was later discharged. According to the victim, the money was meant for the purchase of items towards her late mother's first anniversary to be celebrated soon.

The North Kaneshie Night Market junction, "The Spectator" investigation indicates, has been turned into a bus-stop for criminals where they often rob their victims. It is recalled that barely two months ago, a similar predicament befell a young woman at the same spot. The residents who spoke to "The Spectator" urged the security agencies to extend their services to that spot.