The Ghana Police Service has announced a significant breakthrough in its fight against violent crime in the Ashanti Region following the dismantling of a notorious carjacking syndicate linked to a series of armed robberies and murders across Kumasi and Tarkwa.
Addressing the media at the M. A. Alhassan Conference Hall on Monday, February 23, 2026, the Ashanti Regional Police Command provided a comprehensive update on investigations into the robbery and murder of Mr. Andrews Amankwah, which occurred on February 10, 2026, at Ohwim-Amanfrom in Kumasi.
The late Mr. Amankwah was fatally shot during a robbery in which his Toyota Hilux (Registration No. GN 6647-25) was stolen.
Intelligence-Led Crackdown
Following the incident, the Inspector-General of Police activated a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation involving the Regional Police Intelligence Directorate, the Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team, and the CID Anti-Armed Robbery Unit.
Through sustained surveillance, technical intelligence gathering, and targeted operations between February 18 and 22, 2026, police successfully dismantled the criminal network identified as the “Duku Syndicate.”
Four key members of the group were arrested in separate operations across Kumasi and its environs. The alleged syndicate leader, Eric Antwi Duku, 42, sustained gunshot wounds during a police operation on February 22 at about 11:00 p.m. and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. His body has since been deposited at the morgue for preservation and autopsy.
Arrests and Breakthroughs
The first major breakthrough came on February 18, when Akwasi Manu, a 47-year-old farmer, was arrested for unlawful possession of the deceased victim’s Samsung mobile phone. His arrest set investigators on the trail of the wider syndicate.
On February 19, Bashiru Tanko, also known as “TK,” aged 33, was arrested at Atonsu in Kumasi. Investigations revealed his prior involvement in car-snatching activities in Tarkwa and around KNUST. Intelligence, however, suggests he had been sidelined from the most recent fatal operation due to an internal financial dispute within the gang.
Two days later, on February 21, Kojo Amponsah, alias “Kamakazi,” aged 35, was arrested at Hwireso near Boankra. His interrogation reportedly provided critical intelligence linking the syndicate to multiple violent robberies involving Toyota Hilux vehicles in Kumasi.
Shortly after the operation that led to Duku’s death, Emmanuel Kwame Appiah, alias “Taller,” aged 38, was arrested at Danyame, Kumasi, around 11:30 p.m. on February 22. Police say he acted as the syndicate’s driver during the fatal Ohwim-Amanfrom robbery.
Weapons and Exhibits Retrieved
Items retrieved during the operation include:
A Bruni Mod 84 pistol
Eight rounds of live ammunition
A tracking detection device
Forged vehicle documents
A Toyota Corolla S belonging to the deceased suspect, now impounded
The recovered firearm is undergoing forensic and ballistic examination to determine its linkage to various crime scenes.
Pattern of Targeted Attacks
Investigations have established that the syndicate specialized in targeting Toyota Hilux vehicles. According to police, the group conducted prior surveillance on victims and, in recent operations, escalated to the use of lethal force to facilitate vehicle theft.
Preliminary findings link the suspects to:
The February 10 Ohwim-Amanfrom robbery and murder of Mr. Andrews Amankwah.
A separate robbery at Kronum, where a victim was fatally shot and a Toyota Hilux belonging to the Ghana National Association of Teachers was stolen.
Police disclosed that the suspects have admitted to multiple robbery operations across Tarkwa and Kumasi and provided intelligence regarding the movement of stolen vehicles to the northern border corridor.
Confessed Robberies in Tarkwa
The suspects have further confessed to nine additional vehicle thefts in Tarkwa and surrounding communities between April 2025 and February 2026. The stolen vehicles included several Toyota Hilux and Toyota Land Cruiser models taken from locations such as Anglogold, Booboobo, Akyeampim, New Atuabo, Tamso, Samahu, and Akyempim.
Authorities revealed that the suspects had been on the wanted list of the Western Central Regional Police Command but consistently evaded arrest during previous attempts to apprehend them.
Ongoing Investigations
Police say investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest additional accomplices, including individuals involved in the disposal of stolen vehicles and the preparation of forged documentation.
The arrested suspects remain in police custody and are expected to be arraigned before court soon.
Reaffirming its commitment to public safety, the Ghana Police Service stated that it remains resolute in dismantling violent criminal networks operating within the Ashanti Region and beyond.
“Criminal elements who threaten public safety will be pursued relentlessly and brought to justice,” the Command emphasized, urging members of the public to continue volunteering credible information to support ongoing crime-fighting efforts.
The latest operation marks one of the most significant security breakthroughs in the region in recent months, offering renewed assurance to residents amid concerns over rising incidents of armed robbery and vehicle theft.
