The Ghana Police Service says it has started a search for a gang of four robbers who attacked a bullion van at Ablekuma Fanmilk, a suburb of Accra on Thursday. 

The robbers, according to the police, shot the officer who was providing escort for the van. 

The police in a statement said the officer "subsequently passed on."

“The Police are on a manhunt to arrest a gang of four robbers who attacked a bullion van at Ablekuma Fanmilk, a suburb of Accra and shot the Police escort who has unfortunately passed on,” part of the statement said. 

The Police has thus expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased officer. 

“Our prayers and thoughts are with the family of our deceased colleague in particular and all personnel of the Police Service in general.”

Meanwhile, it has assured the citizenry that it will not renege until the suspects are arrested and prosecuted. 

“We wish to assure the public that we will surely get the robbers arrested to face justice.”

How it happened

According to reports, the attack occurred when the bullion van made a stop at a fuel station, presumably to purchase fuel. It was at this point that the robbers reportedly attacked the van.

It is not clear yet whether they took away any money. Meanwhile, the driver of the van is said to have escaped unhurt.

Videos captured after the shooting which have gone viral on social media, showed some members of the public helping the injured officer out of the car, but he died later at the scene.

The last major bullion van attack that led to the death of a young police officer, coincidentally occurred in June 2021 at Jamestown, a suburb of Accra.

It was carried out by a gang of six robbers. It later emerged that among the robbers were police officers who killed their colleague in order to protect their identities.

Following that incident, the Ghana Police Service expressed concern about the limited protection for its staff because the banks were not using the right bullion vans to move money from one point to the other.