Robbers Attack On Bullion Van Must Be A Wake-Up Call For Govt To Ban Use Of Okada---Ablekuma Residents Declare
They indicated that the Ablekuma Fanmilk robbers attack metes put to bullion van on Thursday June 22, 2023 must be served as a wake-up call for the central government to ban the use of motorcycles and aboboyaa on the major streets in Ghana.
Freeman Koryekpor 
Thousands of concerned residents residents of Ablekuma Fanmilk area in the Greater Accra Region have called on the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to
abolish okada operational system in Ghana.
They indicated that the Ablekuma Fanmilk robbers attack metes put to bullion van on Thursday June 22, 2023 must be served as a wake-up call for the central government to ban the use of motorcycles and aboboyaa on the major streets in Ghana.
"We are the government that apart from robbery shooting incident meted to Bullion Van which occurred on Thursday June 22, 2023, claiming the life of a police personnel, the motor riders are using the motor bikes to knock the people to death at the area," the residents told Soireenews.com.
In an interview with Soireenews.com, the residents couldn't hide their fears as they urged government as a matter of urgency abolish okada and beef up security in the area.
Residents also expressed some concerns on bushy nature of Ablekuma Fan milk to Pokuase Amasaman main road and the danger it poses to them.
Some added that apart from the fact it makes crossing the road difficult which has claim lives due to vehicles crushing pedestrians , it is also serving as hiding place for thieves to snatch bags , mobile phones, monies etc
They are therefore calling on the Assembly to see to it that the bush in between the roads are cleared.
It would be recalled that a group calling itself the National Concerned Drivers Association has commended the Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey for his plans to ban the use of motorcycles and aboboyaa on our major streets.
The group said the use of motorcycles for commercial purposes was banned in 2012, but the implementation of the regulation has been a challenge.
In their view, the okada business has become a major cause of accidents in the country, leaving several persons injured and traumatized.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister some few weeks ago met with stakeholders in various sectors to discuss the implementation of Ghana’s road traffic regulations and specifically banning the use of tricycles on highways and principal streets in the region.
The meeting was to draw conclusions for a Bye-Law that will revive and ensure strict compliance and enforcement of the regulations.
The Road Traffic Regulations (2012) LI 2180, among other things, prohibits the use of motorcycles and tricycles for commercial purposes.
The group believes the move was good and the Minister must be commended.
Police confirmed on Thursday, June 22, 2023; the death of one of its officers in an attack on a bullion van at a fuel station at Ablekuma Fanmilk in the Greater Accra.
The deceased was seated in front of the white van at the time of the attack.
He succumbed to several gunshots fired at him by one of four assailants, who made away with two bags whose contents remain unknown.
The quartet launched the attack on two motorbikes in broad daylight scaring off patrons of the filling station and others close to the scene.
Here are five major things we know so far about the incident
Time of the attack
Even though reports of the incident got into the media late afternoon, the incident is said to have happened at around 1:30 pm according to eye witnesses, a claim buttressed by Star Oil statement.
The oil company confirmed thus in a statement: "Star Oil is deeply saddened to announce an armed robbery attack at our Ablekuma Fanmilk station on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at approximately 1:30 PM.
From our review of CCTV footage, the robbers made away with two bags, the contents of which remain unknown at this point.
Star Oil further confirmed in their statement that the van had just arrived to collect money when the attack was launched.
"The robbers attacked the van a few minutes after it arrived for cash collection at the station," their statement of June 22 stressed.
The slain officer who was retrieved from the van after the robbers had bolted has been declared dead.
Even though the terse police statement on the incident did not fully identify him, Star Oil's statement provided a single name as Amoah.
Contrary to some social media reports that the police had arrested the robbers, their statement released hours after the incident disclosed that a manhunt was on for the killers.
"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," the statement read.
Eyewitnesses in the area told the media about how the operation unfolded stating among others that the sound of repeated gunshots had them scampering and taking cover.
That after the robbers had bolted, most people rushed to the scene where they saw the policeman slumped in the car seat.
"It was there that some of the people carried him into a car and rushed him to the hospital," one of the eyewitnesses told Metro TV news.
Read below Star Oils’ full statement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Armed Robbery attack on a Bullion Van at Star Oil Ablekuma Fanmilk Station
Star Oil is deeply saddened to announce an armed robbery attack at our Ablekuma Fanmilk station on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at approximately 1:30 PM. The robbers attacked the van a few minutes after it arrived for cash collection at the station.
We wish to assure all our customers and the general public that as a responsible organisation, we have adequate security systems at our stations to aid police investigations.
We also use this opportunity to admonish the general public to exercise caution in publishing unverified accounts of the incident.
We will provide further details on this incident after subsequent consultations with the Ghana Police.
We wish to express our sincere sympathies to the family of the deceased police officer and the Ghana Police Service.
