<<Print>>

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Kwesi Ofori has sounded a note of caution to all Financial Institutions to be extra vigilant as armed robbers appear to be taking their operations right to their doorsteps. Recounting three separate incidents within the last 48 hours where some policemen suffered series of attacks in carrying out their legitimate duties; two of those attacks on bullion vans under police escort in Accra and Kumasi, DSP Kwesi Ofori described the new trend as very alarming. ��the Police service since it came into operation has been helping financial institutions by providing them security detail in their bullion vans�it is alarming, but we also need to revise our strategy,� he said. Speaking on PEACEFM�s �Kokrokoo�, DSP Kwesi Ofori expressed worry over the increasing spate of attacks on its personnel by armed robbers. He also advised the public to "stay away from combat zones, especially when criminals engage law enforcement officials in a shoot-out." Gun men opened fire on a bullion van on the Ashaiman-Nungua stretch of the road in broad day light yesterday, killing Lance Corporal Amos Nkrumah, 29, who was hit on the neck and pronounced dead on arrival at the Darbem Hospital, Ashaiman. According to reports, a police patrol team from Accra on hearing the news of the attack, pursued the robbers and in fierce exchange managed to retrieve the gun of the deceased police personnel, a pomp action gun belonging to the robbers and an amount of GH₵7,000. However the police had to cease fire because the scene of the gun battle had been swarmed by onlookers and the situation gave the robbers the upper hand enabling them to flee the scene. The bullion van was en route to one of HFC's branches in Tema when the robbery occurred. A similar scenario was enacted by some armed robbers at Aprade, in the Ashanti Region, on Saturday, with another police officer losing his life in the process. In the third robbery incident, the policeman was reportedly shot in the thigh at Odorkor, a suburb of Accra. DSP Kwesi Ofori said the Police Administration is considering increasing the number of its escorts on bullion vans in dispatching their duties.