5 Major Robbery Cases During Dampare’s Time as IGP

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Key Points

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• Obuasi killings left eight miners dead, but no arrests were made.
• In Adabraka, robbers stole cash from a jewellery shop in broad daylight.
• Bullion van robberies led to police deaths and the involvement of rogue officers.

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Dr. George Akuffo Dampare served as Ghana’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) from June 2021 until March 2025. During his time in office, several major robberies occurred, some of which remain unsolved.

Many Ghanaians had high expectations for him, but these crimes shook public confidence. Here are five major robbery cases that happened during his term.

1. Obuasi Killings

On January 19, 2025, violence broke out in Obuasi, a mining community in the Ashanti Region. Small-scale miners clashed with the Ghana Armed Forces, resulting in the deaths of eight people.

The incident happened after miners reportedly attacked the AngloGold Ashanti mine. Although President John Dramani Mahama ordered an investigation, no one has been arrested, and the case remains open.

2. Adabraka Jewellery Shop Robbery

In November 2024, robbers stormed a jewellery shop in Adabraka, Accra, in broad daylight. Armed with rifles, they shot into the air to scare people away.

The robbers then loaded bags of cash into a car. Just as the car tried to leave, another vehicle blocked it. Masked robbers emerged, attacked the driver, and seized the cash. Despite a police manhunt, the suspects remain free.

3. Bullion Van Robberies

In 2021, several bullion van robberies took place across Ghana. These robberies created fear, especially among financial institutions. Tragically, some police officers lost their lives during these heists.

Key robberies took place in areas like James Town, Adansi Fomena, Spintex Road, and the Accra-Winneba highway. Investigations revealed that some police officers were involved. In 2022, two of the officers linked to the robberies were killed.

4. Lapaz Forex Bureau Robbery

In November 2024, robbers targeted Rahama Forex Bureau in Abeka Lapaz, Accra. The owner, Samuel Addai, received an emergency call from his employees. He quickly alerted the police, who arrived just in time to stop the robbers.

The suspects fled without taking any money. Thanks to the quick police response, the robbery was stopped before it could succeed.

5. MoMo Robberies

Mobile Money (MoMo) vendors became frequent targets of robberies and murders. In 2025, three MoMo vendors were attacked in the Ashanti Region.

One victim, Junior, was found murdered in his room at the Kwadaso Onion Market in Kumasi. His throat was slit, and his hands and legs were tied.

The robbers made off with a large sum of money. In Krofrom, a MoMo vendor named Patricia Nimako was shot and killed in February. Her robbers took GH¢10,000 and mobile phones. Another MoMo vendor, Augustine Mensah, was killed by robbers in Manso-Asamang.