Five men posing as National Security operatives have been arrested by police in the Western North region for their alleged involvement in conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful damage, and stealing at a mining site.
In a press conference held at the regional police headquarters in Sefwi-Wiawso, the regional commander DCOP Dr Francis Kwame Tsidi stated that, the suspects were picked up on April 2, 2026, at about 6:00 p.m. following intelligence reports that a group of men dressed in National Security attire were moving through communities around Suiaboi, including mining sites, demanding documentation from miners and seizing items under the guise of official duties.
Their actions raised suspicion among residents, who confronted them, while others trailed the group to Dadieso. Acting swiftly on intelligence, police intercepted and arrested the suspects.
The suspects have been identified as Amponsah Asare Wagan, 33; Nelson Agbodzah, 28; Norbert Awedagah, 27; Francis Brefo, 35; and Benjamin Boakye, 48, the driver of a Toyota Hilux vehicle with registration number GX 1095-19.
They were subsequently transported to the Dadieso Police Station for further investigations.
During interrogation, some of the suspects claimed to be affiliated with state institutions. Amponsah Asare Wagan reportedly presented himself as a medical doctor, a son of a security capo, and a branch communicator of the NDC at Kwadaso.
Others, including Nelson Agbodzah and Norbert Awedagah, claimed links to National Security operations at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and NADMO office at Nhyiaeso. Francis Brefo also claimed to be a National Security operative.
However, preliminary investigations by police have debunked these claims, revealing that at least two of the suspects Amponsah Asare Wagan and Francis Brefo are unemployed and have no ties to National Security.
Police investigations further indicate that the operation was premeditated.
Amponsah Asare Wagan is said to have assembled the group in Kumasi under the pretext of gathering intelligence at Bibiani but later diverted them to a mining site at Suiaboi in the Dadieso area.
At the site, the suspects allegedly caused damage to mining equipment, ransacked rooms belonging to workers, and made away with mobile phones and an amount of GHC 2,000.00.
A search conducted in the vehicle, which had been rented from a Kumasi-based company, LEASAFRIC, led to the retrieval of several items, including two car batteries, three water pumping machines, a starter, a hose, a metal object suspected to be part of an excavator, five mobile phones, a bunch of keys, a live AA cartridge, and a pair of military camouflage trousers.
Police say Amponsah Asare Wagan has confessed to orchestrating the operation, claiming he was contracted by a former employee of the mining site identified only as Yaw, who allegedly sought to expose the activities of his former employer.
Authorities have since obtained documentation from the car rental company to support investigations.
The suspects are expected to be arraigned upon the conclusion of investigations.
Police have assured the public of their commitment to clamp down on individuals who impersonate security personnel to commit crimes and have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
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