KUMASI – In a security breach that has left the Ashanti Regional Police Command reeling, a 26-year-old man, Ebenezer Frimpong, appeared before a magistrate court following the daring theft of a police armoured vehicle at Nkawie.
The suspect was apprehended on April 15 after leading security forces on a high-speed, “Rambo-style” chase through the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality. The incident has sparked a firestorm of criticism regarding police protocol and the security of state-owned tactical assets.
A Costly Lapse in Judgment
The drama unfolded in front of the Nkawie Market when Lance Corporal Joshua Denkyi, an officer with the Formed Police Unit (FPU), reportedly left the engine of the armoured vehicle (registration GP 1131) running while he stepped into a nearby pharmacy.
Denkyi was reportedly in the process of transporting the vehicle to the Regional Police workshop in Kumasi for routine maintenance.
Eyewitnesses describe a scene of disbelief as Frimpong, who was seen loitering in the area, seized the moment. He jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off, leaving the officer and stunned bystanders in a cloud of dust.
The “Rambo-Style” Pursuit
The Ashanti Regional Command immediately deployed a combined SWAT team of seven officers to intercept the vehicle. The chase spanned the Abuakwa-Kumasi stretch, with the suspect eventually being cornered at Atwima Mim.
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Security experts have raised concerns over how a civilian was able to effortlessly operate a specialized tactical vehicle, which usually requires specific training. The vehicle has since been recovered and is being held as a primary exhibit.
Frimpong, who was transferred to the Regional Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for interrogation, faces provisional charges of theft and interference with police equipment. He remains in custody at the Abuakwa District Police Command while the Ghana Police Service conducts an internal inquiry into the conduct of Lance Corporal Denkyi.
