An attempted armed robbery at the MRB Rural Bank in Winneba was foiled in the early hours of Friday, August 15, 2025, following a rapid intervention by the Ghana Police Service.
According to official reports, the incident occurred around 1:00 a.m. when the bank’s alarm system was triggered. A nearby police patrol team swiftly responded to the distress signal and headed to the bank premises.
Upon reaching the scene, the officers encountered heavy gunfire from suspected armed robbers, who were allegedly attempting to force their way into the bank’s main vault. A brief but intense exchange of gunfire ensued, forcing the criminals to abandon their mission. They fled the scene under the cover of darkness, leaving behind a pump-action shotgun, an empty cartridge, and several break-in tools believed to have been prepared for the heist.
Fortunately, no police officers or civilians were harmed during the confrontation.
Following the incident, a team of specialized investigators from the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit (AARU) of the CID Headquarters in Accra, led by ASP James Atampugri, was dispatched to Winneba to assist the Central Region police with forensic examinations and intelligence gathering.
Preliminary investigations suggest that at least five heavily armed men were involved in the attempted robbery. Police sources revealed that the operation bears striking similarities to earlier attacks on rural banks across the country, fueling suspicions that a notorious criminal gang, believed to operate between Accra and Kumasi, may be behind the attack.
Current intelligence points to Kumasi as a possible hideout for the suspects. Surveillance teams from the AARU are reportedly conducting ground operations in the Ashanti Regional capital to trace the movements and safe houses of the gang members.
Meanwhile, the police have called on the public, particularly residents of Winneba and Kumasi, to be on high alert and promptly report any suspicious activity. Authorities have assured the public that security around financial institutions in the Central Region and other rural areas has been intensified to prevent further attacks.
