Ghana police arrest three suspected motorcycle gang members in Kumasi
Police in Ghana's Ashanti Region arrested three men suspected of belonging to a motorcycle gang accused of night street racing and robberies in Kumasi. The suspects were released on police inquiry bail and have not been charged in court.
Key points
Three suspected motorcycle gang members arrested in Kumasi after police stopped the group at Suame early on 1 November.
“Sharif Mahmud, 23, Abdallah Karim, 25, and James Alena, 25, were arrested at about 01:40 local time on Sunday, 1 November, after a police team stopped the group at Suame, police said in a statement.”
The arrests are a concrete police action against a gang that residents say has terrorised parts of Kumasi. The suspects have not been charged, so their involvement remains unproven.
The gang is accused of night-time road racing and robbing passers-by in Breman, Kronum and Suame.
“The group is accused of taking over public roads at night to race motorcycles and of attacking and robbing passers-by in the Breman, Kronum and Suame areas.”
These are the allegations behind the public fear described in the report. They are unproven accusations, and the police say they have caused insecurity among local people.
Police say the gang had been under surveillance for some time, but its members kept evading arrest.
“The Ashanti Regional Police Command said it had been watching the group's movements for some time, but its members had kept avoiding arrest.”
This shows the operation was the result of sustained monitoring rather than a chance stop. It also points to the difficulty police faced in catching the group.
All three suspects were released on police inquiry bail, with court appearances delayed by a judicial strike.
“All three suspects have been released on police inquiry bail, which is bail granted by the police while the investigation continues. They are expected to appear in court once judges sit again.”
Release on police bail means the case is still under investigation and no court has ruled on guilt. The ongoing strike by JUSAG has halted court work, so timing of any hearing is uncertain.
Police are still hunting the other gang members who escaped and are asking residents for credible tips.
“Police have asked residents to come forward with credible information that could help them identify and arrest the suspects who escaped.”
Several suspected members remain at large, so the investigation is ongoing. Public tips are central to whether the wider group can be identified and arrested.
Notable people & entities
Arrested three suspected motorcycle gang members near Suame after monitoring the group for some time, and said investigations and the search for the escaped members are continuing.
Signed the police statement announcing the arrests and the ongoing investigation, and urged residents to provide credible information to help identify the suspects who escaped.
Its ongoing strike has halted court work, so the three suspects, who were released on police inquiry bail, cannot yet appear in court.
The location where police stopped the group at about 01:40 on Sunday, 1 November, leading to the arrest of three suspected gang members.
Areas where the suspected gang is accused of attacking and robbing passers-by, causing fear and insecurity among local people.