The Fiapre Circuit Court has remanded three men into police custody for their alleged involvement in the theft of a Beretta service pistol from the Newmont Ahafo Mines Company at Ntotroso, near Kenyase, in the Ahafo Region.
The suspects—Joseph Blackige (25), Kwabena Dodzi (44), and Adu Yeboah Abraham, alias Okwaraji (46)—face provisional charges of stealing and possession of stolen property, with a fourth accomplice, 18-year-old Priscilla Awuni, granted police enquiry bail.
The case stems from an incident on January 13, 2025, when a Beretta pistol bearing registration number GHGP/NHQ/CTD/H78688Z13 vanished under mysterious circumstances from the mining giant’s secure premises.
Intelligence gathered by the National Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU) triggered a targeted operation on November 12, 2025, culminating in the arrest of Blackige and Awuni at Ntotroso.
A thorough search of Blackige’s residence yielded no weapon, but under interrogation, he confessed to handing the firearm to Kwabena Dodzi. Acting on this lead, police proceeded to Adu Yeboah Abraham’s home, where they recovered six BB cartridges, suspected gunpowder, and GH¢28,844 in cash—all seized as exhibits.
Presiding over the hearing, H/W Mrs. Akua Adoma Addae remanded the three male suspects to reappear on November 28, 2025, while granting Awuni conditional bail pending further probes.
The court emphasized the gravity of weapon theft in a high-security mining environment, where such incidents pose significant risks to personnel and operations.
Chief Inspector Thomas Akeelah, Public Relations Officer for the Bono Regional Police Command, confirmed the arrests in an official statement, praising the CTU’s swift action.
“This recovery prevents a dangerous weapon from circulating in criminal hands,” he noted, urging the public to report suspicious activities involving firearms.
Newmont Ahafo Mines has cooperated fully with investigators, implementing enhanced internal audits to prevent future breaches.
The incident has raised concerns over security protocols at industrial sites, with labor unions calling for stronger safeguards for service weapons used by private security details.
As the case unfolds, authorities continue to trace the pistol’s whereabouts, with forensic analysis underway on the recovered items.
The outcome could set a precedent for accountability in corporate security lapses and illicit arms trafficking in Ghana’s mining corridors.
