Offinso North, July 18, 2025 – Residents of Offinso North Municipality are grappling with growing fears over a surge in highway robbery incidents along the Akumadan-Sraneso road and the Kumasi-Techiman highway, with three confirmed cases reported between January and March 2025 and two attempted robberies on June 19 and July 13, 2025, according to the District Police Command.
The Akumadan-Sraneso stretch saw three robbery incidents between January and March, where commuters and residents were stripped of cash, mobile phones, and other valuables. In response, the District Police Command implemented special measures, which have since halted further incidents on this stretch, though concerns persist. On June 19, an attempted robbery on the Akumadan-Nkenkaaso stretch of the Kumasi-Techiman highway left a driver seriously injured with a gunshot wound to the cheek while escaping assailants. No theft occurred, as the driver managed to flee. A second attempted robbery on July 13 in the same area was thwarted when police stationed at a checkpoint between Akumadan and Nkenkaaso responded swiftly. The robbers fled into nearby bushes upon the officers’ arrival, with no injuries reported, per police records.
A.S.P. Alexander Joseph Darkwa, Crime Officer for the District Police Command, highlighted the challenges faced by the under-resourced force, which operates with only 76 personnel, two vehicles, and two motorbikes. “We are stretched thin,” Darkwa stated, noting that the command has requested an increase to at least 100 personnel to bolster security efforts. Hon. Mustapha Seidu, Assemblyman for the Nkenkaaso Nkramom Electoral Area, echoed these concerns, urging authorities to prioritize equipping the police to protect the municipality’s growing population, projected to reach nearly 90,000 by 2025, up from 83,440 in the 2021 Census.
The Kumasi-Techiman highway, a critical artery connecting the Ashanti and Bono regions, has become a hotspot for armed robberies, with a notable incident on July 13 at Nkenkasu leaving passengers stranded after robbers fired indiscriminately, though no fatalities were reported.
Residents and commuters have renewed calls for increased police patrols and resources to curb the menace, which threatens the economic vitality of Offinso North, a key agricultural hub known for cashew and rice production.
The District Police Command assures the public that efforts are underway to apprehend the perpetrators and restore safety.
