The Ghana Police Service has achieved a major breakthrough in the fight against violent crime by successfully dismantling a network of dangerous criminal syndicates responsible for a series of brazen bank robberies across the country.
This milestone comes after six months of sustained intelligence gathering and coordinated operations led by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohonu.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, September 24, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Lydia Yaako Donkor, announced that 10 key members of the syndicates had been arrested, while three others were fatally wounded during fierce shootouts with police officers.
“The suspects are Akwesi Ejei, alias Cobra; Ibrahim Alhassan; Samuel Appiah, alias Akwesi Mugu; Francis Aqua, alias Preyman; David Ebuobi, alias Wasti; Martin Akansina, alias One Billion; Nana Yaw Fimpong, alias Mystikal; Kojo Atingawu, alias Borga; Samuel Akwesi Jand; Stephen Say, Koku Pepra, alias X5; he is deceased, Bozin is also deceased; Kwabna Owusu-Ansar is at large; and N1 Albert is also at large.”
Lydia Yaako Donkor
The gang, consisting of about 15 individuals, had terrorized financial institutions across the Ahafo, Western, Central, Eastern, and Ashanti regions.
Their operations targeted rural and community banks, causing fear and disruption in several towns.
Gang Responsible for Coordinated Attacks
Donkor revealed that the syndicate was behind a string of violent attacks, including the high-profile robbery of the Adansi Rural Bank in Fomena on April 10, 2025.
In that incident, the gang scaled the bank’s walls, tied up security personnel, and used industrial cutting machines to break into the vault before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of money and two pump-action guns.
The group’s audacity grew as they struck multiple banks over the following months. Other targeted institutions included Lowa Pra Rural Bank in Takoradi, Asokori Rural Bank in Kumasi, Ahafu Kukuom Rural Community Bank, and Kakum Rural Bank in Elmina, among others.
In some cases, their plans were foiled by swift police intervention, but in several instances, they escaped with substantial amounts of cash and firearms.
On August 8, 2025, the robbers attacked EcoBank’s Kenyasi branch, overpowering police officers on duty, seizing their AK-47 rifles, and stealing mobile phones. Though their attempt to open the bank’s main vault failed due to faulty equipment, they escaped with the weapons.
The climax of their crime spree came on September 14, 2025, when they raided St. Martin de Porres Co-op Credit Union, holding a security guard and his wife hostage before making off with cash.
Police Recover Weapons and Cash
The police recovered a massive cache of weapons and stolen items during their operations.
Among the exhibits were three AK-47 assault rifles, seven pump-action guns with 96 rounds of ammunition, four pistols, and an assortment of local and foreign currency, including ₵18,845, $104, 31,000 CFA, and 5,800 Naira.
Vehicles, motorbikes, mobile phones, and jewelry were also seized. A chilling revelation came when one of the AK-47 rifles was identified as belonging to a police officer who was tragically killed by armed robbers on the Bibieni-Gosu Highway in November 2024.
“This discovery confirms that this same gang committed that heinous crime, adding another layer of urgency to our investigations.”
Lydia Yaako Donkor
The gang’s modus operandi involved storming bank premises at night, overpowering security personnel, seizing their weapons, and using industrial cutters to access vaults.
Their operations were highly coordinated, pointing to a well-organized and well-financed criminal network.
Breakthrough Arrests After Months of Surveillance
Targeted intelligence gathering eventually led investigators to Kwabena Owusu Ansa, alias Kobe, identified as the mastermind behind the syndicate.
Further surveillance revealed the hideout of Kwesi Ejei, alias Cobra, the gang leader, who was arrested on September 18, 2025, at Eseresu Adeja. A search of his property uncovered two AK-47 rifles buried in a pond and a Toyota Noah minibus used in their operations.
Subsequent arrests included David Ebuobi, alias Wasti, who was found with seven pump-action guns, 97 live rounds of ammunition, and tools used for breaking into bank vaults.
Other suspects, including Stephen Sei, Ibrahim Alhassan, Francis Aqua, and Martin Akansina, were captured in different locations during coordinated raids.
In dramatic encounters, two suspects—Kweku Pepra, alias X5, and Natibongo—were fatally shot during armed confrontations with police teams. The police also recovered more weapons, including a Bruni pistol and pump-action guns used in previous robberies.
Victims Identify Suspects
Donkor confirmed that several victims had positively identified the arrested individuals during identification parades. Additionally, forensic analysis linked recovered weapons and other evidence directly to multiple crime scenes.
She emphasized that while investigations are ongoing, there is strong evidence tying the syndicate to nearly all the bank robberies reported between November 2024 and September 2025.
“All of the suspects are currently in custody and will be prosecuted. Efforts are underway to arrest the remaining fugitives and dismantle any remnants of this dangerous network.”
Lydia Yaako Donkor
The CID Director-General commended the Ashanti Regional Commander and all officers involved for their dedication and professionalism, which were instrumental in bringing down one of the most notorious criminal groups in recent Ghanaian history.
The Ghana Police Service’s success in this operation demonstrates the power of intelligence-driven policing and inter-agency cooperation.
However, with two suspects still on the run and several unanswered questions, the case remains a stark reminder of the challenges security forces face in safeguarding lives and property across the nation.
