Six arrested over alleged armed robbery syndicate in Ashanti Region
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested **six people suspected of belonging to or assisting an organised armed robbery network believed to be operating across parts of the region.
The arrests were made in August 2026 by the Regional Police Anti-Armed Robbery Unit as part of an operation aimed at disrupting robbery activities and dismantling criminal networks in the Ashanti Region.
At a press briefing on Monday, August 31, 2026, Ashanti Regional Police Commander DCOP Arthur Osei Akoto said preliminary investigations had connected the suspects to a number of street robbery cases recorded at different locations.
Among the areas mentioned were Kaase, Ahinsah Estates, Santasi New Sites, Broni Krom and Kwadaso Estates.
Suspects Identified
Police identified the suspects as:
Philip Nyarko, alias Kawawa, 23
Hadi Samed, alias Toronto, 20
Issahaku Musah, alias Isak, 23
Suraj Mohamed, alias Baba Nde, also known as Trouble, 27
Hadi Abdul Majeed, alias Panie, 23
Foster Owusu Afriyie, alias Joe Fraizer, 45
DCOP Akoto said the arrests followed intelligence-led operations conducted by the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit in Kumasi.
“During August 2026, the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit, Kumasi, acting on intelligence, arrested six persons suspected to be members or associates of an organised armed robbery syndicate operating within the region,” he said.
Weapons and Mobile Phones Recovered
According to the police, a search of Philip Nyarko’s residence resulted in the recovery of a Kawasaki motorcycle reportedly fitted with a 600cc engine.
Investigators suspect the motorcycle may have been used in some of the robbery incidents under investigation.
The search also produced two machetes, an iPhone 13 and five keypad mobile phones, which police believe may have been taken from robbery victims.
Further investigations reportedly led officers to Augustin Agyemang Duah, a resident of Adum PZ, who is suspected of assisting members of the alleged syndicate to unlock mobile phones believed to have been stolen.
A laptop suspected of being used to unlock the devices was found at his residence and taken into police custody as an exhibit.
More Arrests
DCOP Akoto said Issahaku Musah, Hadi Abdul Majeed and Hadi Samed were arrested on August 24, 2026, at Atonsu, Aboabo and Asawase, respectively.
Police searches at their residences reportedly resulted in the seizure of knives and machetes believed to be connected to the robbery cases being investigated.
Another suspect, Foster Owusu Afriyie, alias Joe Fraizer, was arrested at the Airport Roundabout in Kumasi.
The police commander said some suspects were allegedly involved in purchasing mobile phones stolen by members of the group.
A search of Foster Owusu Afriyie’s residence led to the recovery of 33 mobile phones believed to have been taken from robbery victims.
“Efforts are underway to identify the rightful owners and establish the circumstances under which the phones were obtained,” DCOP Akoto said.
Previous Bail in Robbery Cases
The police also disclosed that two of the suspects, together with another individual who remains at large, had previously been arrested in December 2025 over alleged robbery and attempted robbery cases.
They were detained at the time but were subsequently granted bail.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command says investigations are continuing to determine the full extent of the suspects’ alleged involvement in the recent robbery cases.
Police are also working to identify additional individuals who may have links to the suspected syndicate as efforts continue to dismantle the network.