Three armed robbery suspects killed in Ashanti Region police shootout; officer injured

Three men suspected of orchestrating a series of armed robberies across the Ashanti Region have been killed in a gunfight with police during an intelligence-led operation on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The incident, which also left a police officer wounded, marks a significant development in efforts to curb violent crime in communities around Obuasi, New Edubiase, and Manso.

The deceased have been identified as 56-year-old Yaw Adu Gyamfi (alias Forsher), 38-year-old Emmanuel Boamah Gyebi (alias Begee), and 29-year-old Felix Topman (alias Rasta). According to the Ashanti South Regional Police Command, the trio were believed to be holed up at the Dousarp Hotel at Atwima Mim near Nkawie and were actively preparing to execute another robbery attack when police moved in.

How the operation unfolded

During initial interrogation, Yaw Gyamfi allegedly confessed to involvement in multiple robbery incidents and killings, and implicated his two co-suspects as accomplices. The three men disclosed plans to ambush motorists along the Anwia Nkwanta-Antoakrom road that evening. They also revealed that firearms had been stashed in a bush at Poano, prompting officers to escort them to the location around 7 pm to retrieve the weapons.

As police conducted the search, unidentified gunmen in the bush opened fire on the law enforcement team. The three suspects attempted to flee into the surrounding vegetation, leading officers to return fire in self-defence. All three men sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange. Chief Inspector Joseph Kwakye, a police officer, was also injured but has since received medical attention for minor wounds.

Significantly, police have indicated that additional suspected accomplices—believed to have suffered gunshot injuries during the confrontation—managed to escape deeper into the bush and remain at large.

Weapons and evidence recovered

Police recovered an unmarked AK-47 assault rifle loaded with 16 rounds of ammunition, two unmarked pump-action guns, and 24 BB cartridges from the scene. The three suspects were transported to Bekwai Municipal Hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival. Their bodies remain at the hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy and formal identification procedures.

What this means for security in Ashanti Region

The operation reflects heightened police activity aimed at dismantling organised robbery networks that have plagued commercial and transport corridors in central Ghana. Armed robbery remains a concern for travellers and businesses in the Ashanti Region, particularly along major highways. The recovery of high-calibre weapons suggests the suspects were equipped for coordinated, potentially lethal attacks. The escape of other gang members, however, indicates that the criminal network may not have been entirely dismantled, and police investigations are likely to continue.

The incident also underscores the risks faced by law enforcement during operations against armed criminals. The injury to Chief Inspector Kwakye demonstrates that confrontations with well-armed suspects present serious dangers to police personnel, even in planned, controlled environments. As investigations continue, authorities will likely pursue leads on the escaped suspects and any ongoing criminal activity linked to the gang.