One suspected armed robber has been confirmed dead following a shootout with police along the Dormaa–Gonokrom highway in the Bono Region.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, February 12, 2026, after intelligence-led surveillance operations by the Bono Regional Police Command.
At a press briefing in Sunyani, Bono Regional Police Commander, DCOP Joshua Coppson, described the operation as a significant breakthrough in the fight against armed robbery and organised crime in the region.
According to DCOP Coppson, credible intelligence received on February 11, 2026, indicated that a robbery gang was planning to attack traders and other road users along the Dormaa–Gonokrom highway.
In response, police surveillance teams were deployed to the area to prevent the planned robbery. In the early hours of February 12, 2026, officers advancing towards a parked motorbike in the area came under gunfire from nearby bushes and the police returned fire.
A search of the scene at daybreak led to the discovery of one male suspect who had sustained gunshot wounds; he was found dead with an AK-47 rifle beside him.
Further searches in the surrounding bushes uncovered a sack containing additional weapons and ammunition, including two Baikal single-barrel guns, one pump-action gun, one Beretta pistol loaded with three rounds of 9mm ammunition plus an additional 34 rounds of 9mm ammunition, one AK-47 rifle loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition and 10 extra rounds, as well as 39 rounds of BB cartridges.
Other items retrieved were a dagger, a mobile phone, a Honda motorbike, a black mask, and a set of talismans. The body of the deceased suspect has been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue for preservation, identification, and autopsy.
The Bono Regional Police Command has assured the public that investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the remaining members of the gang and has appealed to residents to provide credible information that could assist in arresting those involved in criminal activities, as efforts continue to enhance safety and security across the region.