Armed robbery syndicates in Ghana's Ashanti Region

In the Ashanti Region of Ghana, police operations have targeted organized criminal syndicates involved in armed robbery and theft.

In August 2026, the Ashanti Regional Police Command arrested six individuals suspected of belonging to an armed robbery syndicate operating in the Kumasi Metropolis. The group, which included suspects such as Philip Nyarko and Hadi Samed, was linked to street robberies in areas like Kaase and Santasi New Site. Police recovered motorcycles, machetes, and numerous mobile phones during the operation. Investigations revealed that three of the suspects had previously been arrested in December 2025 for conspiracy to commit robbery but had resumed criminal activity after being granted bail.

By September 2026, legal proceedings continued against members of criminal gangs in the region. The Nsuta Circuit Court remanded four men, including Issah Musah, following allegations of involvement in an armed robbery and the sexual assault of a policewoman at gunpoint in August 2026. Musah is alleged to be part of a seven-man gang that has targeted gold shops and mining sites across the Ashanti, Central, and Western North regions, including a January 2026 incident involving the theft of gold valued at GH¢20 million.