"CID makes breakthrough in major murder, robbery, and vehicle theft cases" — COP Lydia Yaako Donkor

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has made significant strides in four major criminal investigations, spanning murder, armed robbery, and transnational vehicle theft.

These breakthroughs, revealed at a press briefing held at Cyber Security Authority Headquarters in Accra, underscored that CID's commitment to delivering justice and protecting public safety.

Gruesome Murder of Immigration Officer Unraveled

One of the key cases under active investigation is the brutal killing of 39-year-old Immigration Officer, Stephen King Amoah, affectionately known as Otumfuor Nana. Amoah was declared missing on July 4, 2025.

Investigations revealed that he had left his Ashongman Estate residence on July 3 after receiving images of cash from a man identified as Bright Aweh, alias “Roberts” or “Highest Bright.”

The suspect had lured him with the promise of repaying a debt.

Aweh was arrested on July 6 and initially claimed to have handed GHS 500,000 to Amoah.

His inconsistent statements and unclear source of the funds raised red flags.

While Aweh was initially charged with kidnapping, the case took a grim turn when a severely burnt body, later confirmed through family identification and forensic tests as that of Amoah, was discovered on July 9 near the GBC Satellite area in Accra.

Further forensic investigations at Aweh’s residence uncovered bloodstains, a freshly sprayed wall, and a blood-stained fufu pestle found in nearby bushes.

His impounded vehicle also tested positive for human blood.

DNA samples provided by the deceased’s mother and son are aiding further analysis.

Aweh has since been re-arrested and formally charged with murder, currently remanded and due to reappear in court on August 8, 2025.

Police says they are now pursuing possible accomplices linked to this heinous act.

The CID also announced the capture of notorious fugitive Abubakari Sadick, the alleged leader of a sophisticated vehicle robbery syndicate targeting rental companies and private drivers.

Sadick and his cohorts posed as religious workers or NGO members, renting vehicles under false pretenses and robbing drivers en route, particularly in Northern Ghana.

One such victim was tied to a tree near Yendi in November 2022 before his Land Cruiser was stolen.

Other vehicles including a Toyota Vitz and additional Land Cruisers were also stolen in a similar fashion and later sold across Ghana.

Despite a 25-year sentence in absentia by the Cape Coast High Court for a previous 2021 robbery, Sadick had remained at large.

He was even briefly arrested in Burkina Faso in 2023 but escaped custody before extradition.

On July 28, 2025, a combined effort by the CID’s Anti-Armed Robbery Unit and National Security led to his arrest in Accra.

He is now in custody and assisting with investigations, with police calling on victims and rental operators to come forward.

Arrest Made in Madina Taxi Driver Robbery

Police have also apprehended a key suspect involved in the January 1, 2025 robbery of taxi driver Vic Martin Obeng.

Obeng was attacked while transporting three passengers from Madina Zongo Junction to Haatso. He was bound, robbed of his cash, mobile phone, and GHS 13,000 in mobile money, and left near Westland.

Suspect Vincent Gbetorglo was arrested on July 30 at Accra Mall. A search revealed the victim’s phone and three others.

He claimed to have purchased them at Circle but failed to prove this. Investigations revealed Gbetorglo is an ex-convict, previously sentenced to 40 years in 2011 and released in 2023 after a successful appeal.

On his part, Divine Selase Agbeti, Ag. Director-General, Cyber Security Authority noted that some major operation took place at Dodowa Sassabi in the Ubuntu Estate.

He stressed that Twenty-five (25) foreign nationals were apprehended in a swift raid.

Among the items retrieved were 40 laptops, 30 mobile phones, and sophisticated Starlink internet equipment.

Preliminary investigations identified 23 of the individuals as victims, who have since been repatriated to their countries of origin with the assistance of our international partners.

The second raid occurred in the Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro enclave, resulting in the arrest of 16 foreign nationals.

Law enforcement recovered 22 laptops and 11 mobile phones. So far, 13 of the suspects are being processed for repatriation as victims of trafficking.

In another operation near the Junction Mall in Teshie-Nungua, 14 suspects—13 foreign nationals and one Ghanaian—were picked up.

Ongoing investigations are working to determine which of the suspects are victims and which will face prosecution. Legal and diplomatic procedures are underway.

Notably, Ghanaian nationals have also been implicated in cybercrime networks. On May 29, 2025, a team led a raid in Sogakope which led to the arrest of 10 individuals allegedly involved in impersonating Members of Parliament and senior government officials online.

These criminals were luring victims with promises of jobs in top state institutions including the Ghana Armed Forces, Police Service, Immigration, Customs, Cocobod, Masloc, and the Scholarship Secretariat.

The ringleader initially escaped but was captured days later in Sege on June 1, 2025.

These operations underline the growing threat of cybercrime and the critical importance of collaboration among national security agencies.

The CSA is particularly grateful to the Director-General of CID, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, whose leadership and cooperation have been instrumental in these operations.

"We also extend appreciation to our international partners for their continued support in identifying and repatriating victims"

The CSA and Ghana Police Service remain united in the fight against cybercrime, committed to dismantling criminal networks, protecting victims, and enhancing Ghana’s cybersecurity resilience.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith