The Ghana Police Service has arrested a man at Ablekuma in the Greater Accra Region for allegedly possessing suspected counterfeit foreign currency and a firearm without lawful authority.

In a statement issued by the Police Service on Thursday, January 22, the arrest was carried out by the National Operations Directorate Surveillance Unit following intelligence that a self-styled fetish priest in the area was allegedly engaged in criminal activities and in possession of a firearm, posing a potential threat to public safety.

The suspect has been identified as Josiah Elorm Kwame Amezado.

According to the police, a search conducted in the suspect’s room led to the discovery of several items, including quantities of US dollar notes in one-hundred-dollar denominations, which officers suspect to be counterfeit.

Other items retrieved during the operation were a pair of handcuffs, a black vest, a Kuzey A100 blank pistol, and 58 rounds of 9mm blank ammunition.

"A search conducted in the suspect’s room led to the retrieval of quantities of US dollar notes in one-hundred-dollar denominations, a pair of handcuffs, a black vest, a Kuzey A100 blank pistol, and fifty-eight 9mm blank ammunition."

Police said that the nature of the items found raises serious concerns, particularly the possession of a firearm and ammunition without authorisation, as well as the potential circulation of counterfeit foreign currency.

Mr Amezado is currently in police custody as investigations continue. The Police Service said efforts are underway to establish the source and authenticity of the foreign currency and to determine the circumstances under which the suspect came into possession of the firearm and related items.

"The suspect is currently in police custody, and investigations are ongoing to establish the source and authenticity of the currency as well as the circumstances surrounding the possession of the firearm and other items," the post read.

The Ghana Police Service has assured the public that it remains committed to dealing decisively with organised crime and illegal possession of weapons, while urging members of the public to continue providing timely information to support law enforcement efforts.