Minority demands probe into death of cops indicted in bullion van robberies

The Minority in Parliament has filed a private members motion to probe the death of two officers involved in the recent bullion van attacks.

The cops were shot dead while assisting a police team to apprehend other accomplices involved in the said robberies.

At a presser, the Ranking Member on the Defense and Interior Committee of Parliament, James Agalga, reiterated the need for a thorough investigation into the matter.

“The killing of the two police officers has now resulted in a situation where the police administration would be denied of very crucial evidence in its quest to unravel the bullion robberies in our country.

“What makes the matter even more worrying is the fact that the persons implicated, some of whom are now dead, are, themselves, police officers. That is what makes a probe and an inquiry very compelling,” he argued.

On March 9, the police in a statement announced the death of two police officers who were assisting with investigations.

“During a raid at Borteyman in Ashaiman to apprehend more suspects, there was an exchange of gunshots, and the two policemen were shot and were pronounced dead on arrival at the Police Hospital where they were rushed to,” the statement said.

The two officers were identified as Constable Reindolph Gyimah Ansah and Lance Corporal Stephen Kwaku Nyame.

The police, however, were able to carry out five more arrests which involved four other policemen and a civilian.

They are Constable Affisu Yaro Ibrahim, Constable Richard Boadu, Constable Rabiu Jambedu, Constable Albert Ofosu, and suspect, Razak Alhassan, a civilian.

They have since been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court.

Facts

The facts of the case as presented to the court by DSP Slyvester Asare sometime in 2021, the Ghana Police Service recorded a series of street robberies as well as attacks on bullion vans.

Following the recent robberies, the service mounted surveillance on the suspected robbers undertaking these unlawful activities within the capital.

On 22 February 2022, the police received a report of an attack on a bullion van with registration number GN 424-14 at North Kaneshie, a suburb of Accra by some gunmen.

The police launched an investigation into the alleged robbery which led to the arrest of Constable Reindolph Gyimah Ansah also known as Pablo [deceased] who admitted the offence during interrogation.

“Further enquiries led to the arrest of Lance Corporal [L/Cpl.] Stephen Nyame [also deceased] and the accused persons herein,” the prosecution said.

Per the facts, “the accused persons, during interrogation, admitted taking part in the multiple bullion van robberies recorded in the Greater Accra Region, including the robbery which took place in February 2021 at Kingsway opposite the Freemason Society, Baatsona- Spintex road in March 2021, Jamestown-Adedemkpo incident in June 2021 which led to the untimely death of Police Constable Emmanuel Osei.”

DSP Asare said, during the investigation the late Lance Corporal Stephen Nyame and Constable Reindolph Gyimah Ansah mentioned two Nigerians, including Omor Naija, as accomplices, currently on the run.

The two officers said some of the weapons used in the robberies were with their Nigerian accomplices around Ashaiman.

On 6 March 2022, the late L/Cpl. Stephen Nyame and Constable Reindolph Gyimah Ansah alias Pablo led the police to a suburb of Ashaiman to apprehend the said two Nigerians.

The Ashaiman operation or raid resulted in an exchange of gunshots which later led to the deaths of the two officers, the prosecutor narrated.