A gang of four armed robbers attacked a bullion van and killed the police escort at Ablekuma Fanmilk on Thursday, June 22.
The robbers pounced on a bullion van that had made a stop at a fuel station during the day and shot the police several times at point-blank range.
Even though the bullion van driver escaped unharmed, the officer died on the spot.
Details of the robbery are scanty, but the Ghana Police Service has confirmed in a statement that the police officer involved “has unfortunately passed on”.
Consequently, the law enforcement agency has launched an investigation to bring the perpetrators to book.
“We wish to assure the public that we will surely get the robbers arrested to face justice,” the release said, adding, “Our prayers and thoughts are with the family of our deceased colleague in particular and all personnel of the Police Service in general”.
In recent times, bullion vans have been increasingly targeted by criminals.
July 21, 2018
A police officer guarding a bullion van reportedly shot and killed the bullion driver by accident at Odumase Krobo in the Eastern Region.
The bullion van driver reportedly met a rowdy funeral procession on the Odumase Krobo road.
The police officer, who was guarding the bullion van in an attempt to restore order for the van to drive through the noisy funeral procession, fired warning shots, which bullet hit the driver.
October 4, 2019
One person was confirmed dead following a collision between a Bank of Ghana bullion van and a fuel tanker at Techiman in the Bono East Region.
The collision also sent thousands of Ghana cedis notes flying into the sky and scattered on the road.
December 3, 2019
On December 3, 2019, a police officer was confirmed dead after a bullion van he was escorting was attacked by some armed men.
The deceased, Sergeant Emmanuel Chikudoh, was part of a team escorting an ADB bullion van to Essam in the Western Region when the incident occurred.
October 7, 2020
On October 7, 2020, two people who conspired to steal more than GH¢ 1 million they were transporting in a bullion van for a bank were sentenced to four years in prison.
A Cash in Transit (CIT) Officer, Bismark Abem, and a driver, Eric Larbi, was found guilty of two charges—conspiracy to commit a crime and stealing.
June 28, 2021
Some unidentified armed men on several motorbikes crossed a bullion van on a pay/collection errand at about 11:00 hours at Adedenkpo, a suburb of James Town.
The robbers reportedly shot at a police officer on escort duty on the van, killing him instantly.
The armed men also fired sporadically in the air and also at the driver, who sustained gunshot wounds.
The armed men also killed a hawker when one of two ladies in the bullion van stepped out and ran in the deceased seller’s direction.
Four persons were later arrested concerning the James Town bullion van robbery.
Other attacks
In 2021 four bullion van attacks were recorded across the country in the first half of the year.
In three of the incidents, the robbers bolted with cash on board the vehicles.
In two of the cases, the police officers escorting the vans lost their lives.