Central Regional Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwamena Duncan has blamed President John Dramani Mahama for a letter written by ‘Armed Robbers Association’ (ARA); a gang of armed robbers.
Residents of Agape Pentecost Junction in Ablekuma, Accra met the shock of their lives when they received a letter from the armed robbers directing them to pay not less than GHc500 through an MTN mobile money.
The letter which were posted on walls, gates, electricity poles and other places read:
“We thank God for your lives. The year has ended and we want everybody to celebrate the New Year in peace.
A.R.A went for a board meeting and we decided that all tenants should pay something small to us, but no less than five hundred Ghana Cedis (GHC 500.00).
Please send the money to MTN mobile money number: 0544133436
Signed by…..
President
(0544133436)
The Accra Police Command has however described the notice as nothing but a “scarecrow“.
But speaking to the issue on Wednesday’s edition of PeaceFM’s‘Kokrokoo’, Kwamena Duncan said the armed robbers could only have embarked on such an action because of the extreme hardship Ghanaians are currently going through in the country.
“From the way things are going; President Mahama should be advised to just step down…people are really suffering to the extent that for the first time in the history of this nation under President Mahama, armed robbers are using dubious bold means to collect money from residents. Instead of the President doing something about it, he is rather talking about guard reviewing a ceremony to handover the guard duties at the seat of government…The bad governance is rather getting worse,” he bewailed.
In a related development, the gang leader of the supposed robbery association has been arrested.
Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Christian Tetteh Yuhuno, who confirmed the report, said the suspect, Samiru Salifu, who had been on the police wanted list for five years, was arrested after exchanging gunshots with the police from his hideout at Ablekuma Fan Milk, near Agape.
The police are also on the heels of about 80 persons suspected to be members of the association.