STORY BY SAMUEL AYAMMAH
The Ghana Police Service has announced significant breakthroughs in two violent crimes in the Bono-East Region, with the arrest of suspects linked to the murder of a queen mother in Abamba and a fatal robbery at a filling station near Atebubu.
During a press briefing in Atebubu on Friday, May 22, 2026, Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno said sustained intelligence-led operations across the country had led to the dismantling of several violent crime syndicates. He noted that efforts against armed robberies, narcotic drug trade, child trafficking, and murder had resulted in multiple arrests, recovery of weapons, and the disruption of online scams and disinformation networks.
In Atebubu, police confirmed the arrest of eight suspects, including a chief, in connection with the murder of Nana Serwaa Gyan Kuma, Queen Mother of Abamba. The suspects in custody are Nana Yaw Bediako alias Nana Yaw, who has confessed to carrying out the killing; Abdul-Razak Ibrahim Langa alias Zack, who was present at the scene; Nana Owusu Sahkofi II, also known in private life as Charles Kofi Owusu and Chief of Akokoa, who police say contracted the others for GHC50,000.00; Emmanuel Agyemang Darko, the Abakomanhene of Akokoa; and Bukari Amadu, a driver. Three other suspects, Michael Owusu Spermi, Rafiu Haruna, and Muphtawu Adamu, were earlier arrested and remanded by the Techiman District Court to reappear on May 21, 2026.
Nana Serwaa Gyan Kuma, a resident of Atebubu and operator of the restaurant Ohemaa’s Kitchen, was shot dead on 25th February 2026 as she returned home from work with her worker Kofi Lewis. Police found her body with multiple gunshot wounds and recovered three spent 9mm cartridges. A post-mortem conducted by Specialist Pathologist Dr. Ernest Boakye of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital gave the cause of death as massive haemothorax from a penetrating chest injury.
A breakthrough came in May when the Central East Regional Police Command in Kasoa arrested Nana Yaw Bediako and Abdul-Razak Ibrahim Langa during a separate operation. Abdul-Razak Ibrahim Langa told police he was present during the queen mother’s murder and had been haunted by her since, naming Nana Yaw Bediako as the shooter. Nana Yaw Bediako admitted to firing the shots and said he was contracted by Nana Owusu Sahkofi II through an intermediary, Bossu, who is serving a sentence at Ankaful Maximum Security Prison. He said he received GHC40,000.00 of the agreed GHC50,000.00 and kept the pistol after demands for the balance were met with threats.
Nana Owusu Sahkofi II, aged 56, was arrested on 19th May 2026 at his residence in Fawoade near Mamponteng. Police said he offered GHC200,000.00 to avoid arrest and paid GHC100,000.00 on the spot, which was retained as an exhibit. Forensic examination of the suspects’ phones showed they had been in contact using a Telecel SIM card procured for the crime. During a reconstruction of the crime scene, Nana Yaw Bediako said the pair explained that the pair ambushed the queen mother and followed her to her residence before he allegedly fired six shots.
Police also took custody of convicted prisoner Isahaku Alhassan alias Sule Yangani from Sunyani Central Prison on 21st May 2026. He admitted to conspiracy to commit murder and said the chief contracted him to find someone to kill the queen mother because she was blocking land sales and the enstoolment of a chief of his choice at Abamba. He told investigators that money was transferred through mobile money to procure a pistol and ammunition, which were delivered by a man named Hudu. Further investigation led to the arrest of Bukari Amadu, aged 50, and Emmanuel Agyemang Darko, aged 59, who are assisting investigations.
In a separate case, police arrested six suspects in connection with the fatal armed robbery at the GB Oil filling station near Atebubu on 2nd May 2026, which left two people dead and two others injured. Three suspects, Adamu, aged 27, Sule Amadu Sobah, aged 22, and Abdulai Ali, aged 45, are in custody. The other three, Abdul Razak Osman alias Alhaji Gao, Nuhu Awudu, and Dauda Issah, died after sustaining gunshot injuries during the operation.
Gunmen with their faces partially covered attacked the filling station, fired indiscriminately, and took a female attendant hostage while searching for the manager, who had already left. They robbed her of GHC500.00. The shooting killed Ebenezer Njoti, aged 30, and Joseph Kpesah, aged 39, and injured Dennis Wajah, aged 22, and Kofi Garee, aged 17. Police recovered fifteen spent AK-47 cartridges and one spent BB cartridge at the scene.
A joint team from the Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team, the Atebubu police intelligence unit, and the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit carried out operations in Techiman, Atebubu, and surrounding areas. The operation led to the arrest of Sule Hamidu Suba and Abdulai Ali alias Baba Ali at Jato Zongo. Police said they admitted acting as scouts and spies and named Nuhu Awudu and Dauda Issah as accomplices. Police later arrested Nuhu Awudu, aged 45, and Dauda Issah, aged 27, both farmers from Amantin and Jato Zongo, along with two female suspects, Abibatu Sambo and Umaru Amama, who were named as the persons who kept the gang’s weapons.
Dauda Issah confessed and named several other accomplices, identifying Nuhu Awudu as the gang leader and Alhaji Gao as the overall boss and financier. The female suspects led police to a bush where a single-barrel gun and four rounds of AA cartridges were recovered. Police said another suspect, Fuseini, remains at large and is believed to be in possession of two AK-47 rifles used in the GB filling station robbery and the Ejura momo shop robbery.
The Bono-East Regional Police Commander said investigations would continue to ensure all perpetrators face justice. The Ghana Police Service extended condolences to the families of the deceased and assured residents that operations to sustain the gains in crime fighting would continue.
