Ghana Police Intensify Crime Crackdown: High-Profile Arrests, Infrastructure Recovery, and Cold Case Reopenings

The Ghana Police Service and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) have announced a series of major breakthroughs in a nationwide effort to combat organized crime, infrastructure theft, and cyber-offenses. Leading these achievements is the recovery of over 100 tonnes of stolen Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) service cables during a massive raid on March 4, 2026. The operation, conducted at Central Company in the Kpone Industrial Area of Tema, led to the arrest of 10 suspects, including eight Chinese nationals and two Ghanaians. Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the CID, revealed that approximately 70 workers were found stripping the cables for export, an activity that has severely impacted the nation's electricity supply. In a separate significant operation in Abokobi, police apprehended 45-year-old Saviour Kojo Ekpe, an alleged land guard found in possession of a cache of illegal weapons, including four pump-action guns, a Glock pistol, and over 100 rounds of live ammunition.

Simultaneously, authorities have made strides in tackling sensitive social and cyber-related crimes. On March 6, 2026, the Cyber Security Authority and police arrested Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Conduah, a self-styled international marriage counselor, for offenses related to child sexual abuse material. Investigations indicate that Conduah allegedly abused a 17-year-old minor over a four-year period, recording the acts and uploading them to pornographic websites. He has been remanded into custody for three weeks as forensic teams examine seized electronics. In another cyber-vetting case, 23-year-old student Nhyira Papa Kojo Egyir Hayford was arrested for publishing obscene videos on Snapchat and TikTok, which he claimed were part of an online challenge. These arrests highlight a growing focus on digital safety and the protection of minors in the Ghanaian online space.

Violent crime investigations have also seen progress with the arrest of a fifth suspect, Nana Agyening Boateng, in the murder of Austin Tengbeh, a 26-year-old Liberian IT specialist killed in Sakumono. The CID has confirmed that all suspects in the Tengbeh case are scheduled for court on March 16, 2026. This development coincides with a broader institutional shift, as COP Lydia Yaako Donkor announced the reactivation of the CID’s Cold Case Unit. The unit is set to utilize updated forensic resources to reopen high-profile investigations into murders and disappearances that have long remained unresolved, signaling a commitment to providing closure for families of victims.

The police have also addressed several unusual criminal incidents across the country. In the Ashanti Region, Benjamin Afedzie was arrested on a commercial bus while carrying a ground human skull and animal parts, which he claimed were for spiritual healing. In Accra, a 32-year-old man was detained for threatening an Uber driver with a toy pistol during a fare dispute, while an Okada rider was arrested for a GH¢30,000 robbery in the Airport Residential Area. Additionally, a tricycle crash in a busy market area recently exposed a drug trafficking scheme where cannabis was being smuggled inside bags of charcoal. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, emphasizing that public cooperation is vital to maintaining national security and the integrity of public infrastructure.