By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The Ashanti Central Police Command has arrested a man, Michael Owusu Ansah, who has been on its ‘Wanted List’ since 2016, in connection with the murder of General Corporal Frank Essel of the regional SWAT Unit on 19th May, 2016 at a hotel at Denchemuoso near Kumasi.
Briefing the media in Kumasi about recent operations by the Command, the Head of the Public Affairs Unit, DSP Godwin Ahianyo, noted, that, the suspect, commonly called ‘Baby Last’, aged 32, was arrested together with four other suspected members of his armed robbery gang.
DSP Godwin Ahianyo, named the four suspected members of the armed robbery gang as Emmanuel Owusu, alias Cassidy, 30 years, Maxwell Gyimah also known as Nana Kwame, 31, Sudais Oxford Ntiamoah alias The Man Sudais and Rhano Okyere a.k.a. Demon.
One other suspect named only as Abedi, is however on the run and being pursued by the Police.
The five, who have been remanded into police custody by a circuit court, were arrested on the 22nd of last month.
According to the Police PRO, their arrest was occasioned by series of armed robberies at Denchemuoso, Atwima Techiman and Asuoyeboah.
The gang, he noted, has been using knives, pistols and pump action guns as their weapons which have all being retrieved.

Touching on other police operations in the region, DSP Ahianyo announced that, an operation by the Airport District Police at Aboabo No.1 last Saturday at about 10 pm has led to the arrest of a 29-year old man, Adam Mohammed, suspected to be involved in illegal trade of narcotic substances.

He disclosed that, the Police retrieved a cash of 66 thousand 950 Ghana Cedis believed to proceeds from the sale of the drugs as well as other exhibits being kept in police custody.

The Regional Police PRO announced also the arrest of three armed men identified as Umar Issah, 26 years, Sherif Mohammed, 20 and Abdul Jalelu, 19, who allegedly attacked and robbed two residents in the Kenyase area using different motor bikes.
They seized from their victims’ mobile phones which have been retrieved and being used by the Police as exhibits in their prosecution. DSP Ahianyo assured that, the Regional Police Command is positively responding to the challenge by the Interior Minister to take back ‘Tinker’ an area which is part of the Ashanti Newtown suburb of Kumasi being used as hideout by drug peddlers and become a no go area for law abiding people.
The Police has assured residents of the region to have trust and cooperate with the police to flush out criminals to guarantee a safe environment for everyone.