Police Apprehend MP's Bodyguards and Four Others Over Targeted Gold Dealer Robberies

The Ghana Police Service has made significant progress in investigating a series of violent crimes targeting the mining sector, resulting in the arrest of six individuals across two separate incidents. In a development that has sparked public concern, two security guards serving as bodyguards for the Member of Parliament (MP) for Awutu Senya East, Naa Koryoo Okunor, were among those taken into custody. These suspects allegedly conducted an armed robbery against a gold dealer while dressed in tactical uniforms—including military and police-style gear—that had been issued to them for their official protection duties.

The misuse of official security regalia has prompted calls for stricter oversight of personnel assigned to high-profile individuals. According to preliminary reports, the bodyguards leveraged the authority associated with their uniforms to facilitate the operation. This incident has cast a spotlight on the potential for institutional equipment to be diverted for criminal gain, a challenge that law enforcement is currently addressing through enhanced monitoring and vetting processes of private security details attached to public officials.

Parallel to the arrests involving the Central Region MP's detail, police in the Western Region successfully apprehended four suspects linked to a substantial robbery in Wassa Akropong. The individuals, aged between 24 and 28, were captured during specialized intelligence-led operations conducted on July 21 and 22, 2026. They are accused of participating in a March 11 robbery where a gold dealer was stripped of GH"24,000 in cash, mobile devices, and gold valued at GH"94,530. While the four suspects have been remanded in custody to assist with further investigations, police have launched a manhunt for a fifth suspect who remains at large.

These recent enforcement actions underscore the commitment of the police to securing the gold trading value chain, which remains a high-value target for organized criminal groups. Authorities have urged players within the industry to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, particularly those involving individuals in uniform who may be acting outside of their official jurisdiction. The cases are expected to proceed through the court system as investigators work to retrieve the stolen assets and dismantle the networks responsible for these coordinated attacks.