The Tema Police Command has arrested 14 suspected criminals, including two armed robbers, who slashed father and daughter with a cutlass, in an attempt to rob them.
The two, Eric Amanu, a 20-year-old taxi driver, and Issah Danlardi, a 24-year-old ex-convict who was released from jail some few weeks ago, slashed the palm of Mr Charles Osei Fosu and the head and back of his daughter, Miss Yaa Helena.
Briefing the Media on the incident in Tema on Friday, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Augustine Gyening, Tema Regional Police Commander, said at about 2345 hours on May 25, Amanu who was driving a taxi cab, had on board four suspected armed robbers, including Danlardi.
ACP Gyening said the robbers followed the victims who had come to town in a Skoda Octavia car, and were heading towards their house at Tema Community 20.
He said when the victims were about to enter their house, Danlardi and his gang attacked them and inflicted cutlass wounds on them when they (victims) resisted the robbery attempt.
The Commander said the screaming of the victims for help, attracted their neighbours who called the Police Patrol Team.
ACP Gyening when the robbers spotted the patrol team who responded to the distress call swiftly, Danlardi and his gang attempted to escape, but he fell into a drain, and was arrested, while the others with the exception of the driver managed to escape.
He said even though Amanu claimed that he was only hired by the robbers, the police doubted his claim, because he waited and watched while the robbers inflicted the cutlass wounds on their victims.
ACP Gyening advised the public to get the help of the Police to escort them to their destinations, especially when returning home at odd hours.
He also entreated the public to take note of suspicious vehicles following them, and drive straight to any Police station, or call the patrol team on telephone numbers 0303202936 / 0303202937 for assistance.
In another development, the Command said at about 1000 hours on May 25, it arrested nine fishermen at Prampram near Tema, for using banned materials to fish.
The nine are Tetteh Otrope, Kofi Paul, Kwao Armah, Kwao Dadzie, Kwadzo Ofori and Isaac Bondai.
The others are Abraham Amanor, Kwao Ngbebi, and Ashitey Francis.
ACP Gyening said the nine were using light to fish contrary to Section 11 of the Fisheries Regulations LI 1968.
He said a potable generator, switch board, bulbs and electrical cables were retrieved from the fishermen.
The Tema Police Command has also apprehended a 68-year-old Forex Bureau Operator Alhaji Yakubu Moro, and his two sons, Musah Moro Yakubu, 30, and Mohammed Yakubu Saani, 25, for cloning cheques of the National Ambulance Service, and forging signatures to withdraw monies from the National Investment Bank (NIB) and the Unibank.
ACP Gyening told the Media that the three who have been operating in Accra for a long time, decided to extend their operations to Tema on May 20, but abandoned their attempt to cash a cheque at one of the NIB branches in Tema.
The suspects who reside at Sebrepor near Mitchell Camp, returned to the same bank on May 23 to cash a cheque with the face value of 100,000 Ghana Cedis, but were arrested by Police personnel who were waiting for them at the premises.
The Commander added that the suspects operated under two forged company names, Agbekof Ventures and Agbezi Auto Engineering Works.
He indicated that the Command has mounted a manhunt for one Kofi Agbenu, who the suspects mentioned as their kingpin.