The Eastern South Regional Police Command has arrested ten people and retrieved nine firearms in a series of security operations in Akwatia, ahead of the upcoming by-election.
The seized weapons include eight pump-action guns and one locally manufactured single-barrel gun, recovered through snap checks and targeted patrols aimed at curbing the illegal possession and use of arms during the polls.
On August 22, 2025, police near St. Dominic Hospital intercepted a vehicle driven by Bernard Kumi Ofosu, where they found a Tulpar double-barrel pump-action gun, four AAA live cartridges, and two blanks. Although Ofosu presented a licence, he remains in custody pending verification of the firearm.
At the Akwatia Y-Junction, police arrested Joshua Amenuku with 15 live BB cartridges. A follow-up search at his home uncovered an ADLER Tulpar pump-action gun and five more cartridges.
Later that day, officers at the Boadua Livingstone checkpoint arrested Enoch Asiedu and Chinese national, Lu Youyan, after discovering four live cartridges in their Toyota Hilux. The ammunition was reportedly linked to their employer, identified only as Mohammed, who is currently wanted by police.
In another August 23 operation, police arrested Pieterson Joseph at Boadua Livingstone Junction after finding an ADLER Tulpar pump-action gun and 46 cartridges in his vehicle. He admitted ownership.
That same evening, a Toyota Tundra with registration WR 5535-13 was intercepted at Staff Village, Boadua. A search uncovered three pump-action guns a Pardus, a Hulglu Atroe, and one unidentified model. The driver, Stephen Nkansah, claimed ownership of two and said the third belonged to his chief. He was arrested.
The Eastern South Regional Police Command says the operations are part of heightened security measures to safeguard the Akwatia by-election, assuring that similar efforts will continue before, during, and after the polls to maintain peace.
