Police allays fears of insecurity in Ashanti Region
The Ashanti Regional Police command has allayed fears of a possible state of insecurity in the area following a surge in reported violent cases, including armed robbery.
Though admitting that there had been an increase in violent crimes in the region, PRO of the Command, ASP Godwin Ahianyo said the police had been in control of the security situation.
According to him, there is no cause for alarm since the police have managed to arrest perpetrators involved in the crimes.
“It is not true that there is insecurity in the Ashanti Region. It is true that we have recorded all these cases [but] in all these cases, some arrests have been made. It could be that it is the same syndicate who are perpetrating these crimes,” he told Accra-based Citi FM in an interview.
“If you say growing sense of insecurity, I will say no. These are cases that may happen and whenever it happens, we have the people arrested. I want to assure the good people of Kumasi that they should be rest assured that wherever a crime goes on, we will be on hand to make sure that the perpetrators are arrested,” he added.
His comments came after a broad daylight robbery at the Alabar market left one dead and three others injured.
The Alabar market adds to a series of robbery attacks which had happened within a spate of two weeks.
The situation raised concerns among residents in the region.
The Alabar incident was less than 48 hours after the owner of Sky Filling Station was shot at the Asuodei branch in the Ahafo Ano South District of the Ashanti Region by unknown armed men.
Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the Alabar market incident after giving the gang a hot chase that led to one of them being shot in the thigh.
Four other persons believed to be part of them, however, escaped and police are on a manhunt for them.
The injured suspect is receiving treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) under police guard.
The two others are being detained and assisting in police investigations.
Previous incidents
The latest robbery incident adds to a series of attacks reported in the region.
At least four separate shooting incidents have happened within a period of two weeks in the region.
On October 20, 2020, a Chinese woman was shot in a daring armed robbery attack near Atinga junction in Kumasi.
According to an eyewitness account on Abusua FM, based in Kumasi, the armed robbers sped off on a motorbike, making away with the victim’s bag.
The victim was rushed to a health facility for medical attention.
The incident happened just 24 hours after a similar shooting in Kumasi was recorded.
This time, a 36-year-old man, Maxwell Awetor, was killed as he entered his friend’s house at Atonsu, a suburb in the regional capital.
He had gone to the bank to withdraw some money.
According to an eyewitness, two suspected robbers accosted the victim immediately after he entered his friend’s house.
The suspects were also on a motorbike and fled the scene after the incident.