The Bono Regional Police Command has achieved a significant breakthrough in its ongoing fight against armed robbery and organised crime, following the arrest and prosecution of several suspects believed to be behind a series of violent attacks across the region.
Addressing the media at the Regional Police Headquarters in Sunyani, the Bono Regional Police Commander, DCOP Joshua Coppson, said the arrests were made through coordinated, intelligence-driven operations carried out in Berekum, Drobo, Nkaseim, Domfete, Ewiakrom, and neighbouring communities.
The targeted operations focused on dismantling criminal networks involved in robbery attacks, firearm trafficking, and the smuggling of stolen motorcycles to Côte d’Ivoire.
The suspects arrested include:
• Johnson Amponsah Kwame Diawuo, 47
• Shadrach Owusu (alias Shark), 25
• Kwafo Samuel, 30
• Latif Mustapha (alias Star Boy), 28
• Mosby Owusu, 20
• Kofi Iddrisa, 45
• Kwabena Agon Azubilla Akalotey, 18
• Baba Kumi Foster, 35
Police investigations revealed that on November 18, 2025, a five-member gang led by Johnson Amponsah attempted to rob passengers travelling along the Berekum–Drobo Road. The attempt was foiled after a swift response from a Police Patrol Team.
During interrogation, suspects Shadrach Owusu and Kwafo Samuel admitted their involvement and named Johnson Amponsah as the leader. They also confessed to participating in multiple robberies around Nkaseim in the Ahafo Region.
A subsequent operation led to the arrest of Amponsah at his hideout in Nyamennae, a suburb of Berekum. A search of his residence uncovered quantities of Indian hemp, two motorcycle helmets, and two machetes, all retrieved as exhibits.
In a separate operation, officers from the Regional Police Intelligence Directorate arrested Latif Mustapha (Star Boy) and Mosby Owusu at Domfete near Berekum. Latif attempted to evade arrest by hiding in his ceiling but was later apprehended following a meticulous search.
Further checks revealed that suspect Kwabena Agon Azubilla Akalotey, already on remand for stealing, owned a pistol previously recovered during police operations.
A search of Latif Mustapha’s room uncovered a significant cache of items, including full military camouflage uniform, military jacket and boots, a toy Glock pistol, taser, live and spent foam bullets, pepper spray, multiple knives and scissors, talismans, war regalia, two laptops, swimming goggles, and toffees suspected to be infused with Indian hemp.
Police also discovered a Parabellum Model R-9 Hungarian pistol loaded with two rounds of 9mm ammunition hidden in the room of Mosby Owusu. He told investigators he purchased the weapon from Latif Mustapha for GHS 9,000 and that Latif occasionally retrieved it from him.
In efforts to dismantle a separate criminal chain involved in receiving and transporting stolen motorcycles and tricycles to Côte d’Ivoire, officers arrested Kofi Iddrisa and Baba Kumi Foster at Ewiakrom near Nkrankwanta. Three motorcycles and one tricycle were seized as evidence.
On December 2, 2025, suspects Johnson Amponsah, Shadrach Owusu, and Kwafo Samuel were arraigned before the Fiapre Circuit Court on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted robbery. They were remanded and will reappear on December 22.
That same day, suspects Latif Mustapha (Star Boy) and Mosby Owusu were arraigned before the Sunyani District Court B on charges of illicit trafficking of firearms, unlawful possession of firearms, and possession of military uniforms without authority. They were remanded to reappear on December 15.
However, suspects Kofi Iddrisa and Baba Kumi Foster, who are being investigated for dishonestly receiving stolen items, were granted police inquiry bail pending further investigations.
The Bono Regional Police Command has reiterated its commitment to dismantling criminal networks and is calling on the public to provide credible information to support ongoing operations. The Command says efforts are underway to arrest additional accomplices still at large and retrieve more illegal weapons linked to the syndicates.
