Armed ROBBERY Rising in ASHONGMAN: POLICE & CHIEFS Must Act
Ashongman is once again in the news for all the wrong reasons. In just the past two weeks, residents have endured a worrying string of robberies—criminals who no longer hide in the shadows but come with a disturbing level of boldness and planning.
These gangs operate with a dangerous method: spraying victims with a substance—through open windows or ventilation—that sends them into a deep, unnatural sleep. Once the occupants are incapacitated, the robbers move in, stealing anything they can carry—phones, electronics, cash, and even food. It’s a frightening tactic that leaves people vulnerable without even knowing it.
One such case was reported in the A-Line area of Ashongman. This compound, home to both flats and single self-contained rooms, became a target late at night. The criminals were methodical, waiting until the area was quiet before moving in. Fortunately, one resident—a woman—did not fall asleep from the spray. When she heard them attempting to force open her window, she raised an alarm. The robbers fled, but not before making away with valuables stolen from other tenants.
Another incident took place just today, 10th August 2025, around 2 a.m. in the Asamanpa Ofori Krom area of Ashongman. According to eyewitness accounts, armed robbers arrived on high-powered motorcycles. Their first attempt to rob a particular house seemed to fail, so they quickly moved to other homes in the area, stealing from multiple residents before fleeing moments before police arrived.
Ashongman has long battled criminals who try to rob through windows after spraying sedatives, but this new wave—now involving armed robbers on motorcycles—marks a dangerous escalation. Adding to the problem, there are growing reports of knife and machete-wielding men lurking in dark corners at night or riding okadas to snatch phones and valuables, sometimes leaving victims seriously injured.
It is time to act. The Ghana Police Service must step up patrols and treat this as the serious threat it is. But the police cannot do it alone. History has shown that when Ashongman’s local chiefs empower the youth to patrol in coordination with elders, crime rates drop. In the past, these community patrols have caught and handed over criminals to the authorities, restoring some peace to the neighborhood.
We call on the Ghana Armed Forces to intervene or at the very least support these community-led efforts. Ashongman’s people deserve to sleep without fear, walk the streets without looking over their shoulders, and live without wondering if tonight will be their turn. The time for half-measures is over.
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