2 Police Officers Remanded for Stealing 16 Assault Rifles from Counter-Terrorism Armoury
Two police officers have been remanded into custody by the Accra Circuit Court for their alleged involvement in the theft of 16 CZ Assault Rifles from the armoury of the Ghana Police Service’s National Counter Terrorism Department.
The officers, Lance Corporal William Atia Asitanga, 32, and Lance Corporal Sulemana Zanya Abdul-Rahman, 27, were arraigned before Her Honour Justice Evelyn Asamoah at Circuit Court 10 on charges of stealing and abetment to steal, respectively.
Both accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against them.
According to the prosecution, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Emmanuel Nyamekye, the theft is believed to have occurred in March 2024 at the Counter Terrorism Department located in Accra, where Lance Corporal Asitanga was serving as the Armourer—entrusted with managing and securing the department’s firearms and ammunition.
An internal audit conducted during that period uncovered a major security breach: 16 CZ Assault Rifles were found missing from the armoury. When confronted, Lance Corporal Asitanga—who had exclusive control over the weapons—was unable to account for the missing firearms, prompting an immediate investigation by police authorities.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Asitanga had allegedly misappropriated the weapons. The trail soon led investigators to his colleague, Lance Corporal Abdul-Rahman, stationed at Asiwa in the Bekwai District of the Ashanti Region, who is suspected to have aided and abetted in the theft.
Following the arrest of the two officers, both have been assisting police investigators with the ongoing probe.
The court has since ordered their remand into police custody to allow further investigations to continue without interference. The case has been adjourned to August 20, 2025, by which time the prosecution is expected to provide more evidence and possibly amend or expand the charges depending on the findings.
This incident has sent shockwaves through the police hierarchy, raising serious concerns about internal security, supervision, and the integrity of personnel placed in sensitive operational roles such as arms management.
The Ghana Police Service has not yet issued an official statement, but sources within the service have hinted that additional arrests and disciplinary actions may follow as the investigation widens.
The case continues to attract public and media attention, especially given the grave implications of stolen military-grade weapons possibly ending up in the hands of criminals or armed groups.
