- Police Recover AK-47, Ammunition After Lashibi Momo Robbery Shootout
A mobile money vendor has shot and killed one of two suspected armed robbers who attacked him at Lashibi in the Greater Accra Region, recovering the full GH¢140,000 allegedly stolen during the robbery.
The incident occurred on Friday, July 3, 2026, according to a police statement issued by the Accra Regional Police Command and reported by Graphic Online.
Police said the two suspects, who were riding a motorbike, allegedly fired at the vendor’s vehicle, damaging the rear tyre and windscreen before snatching the cash.
As the suspects attempted to flee, the vendor returned fire, killing one of them at the scene. The second suspect escaped, abandoning the bag containing the money, which was later recovered intact. The vendor was not injured.
A search conducted on the deceased suspect led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, two magazines loaded with 55 rounds of live ammunition, an additional 11 rounds of ammunition, GH¢3,000 in cash, a Samsung mobile phone and an identification card bearing the name Innocent Elemuwa Akachukeu, aged 46.
Police also retrieved five AK-47 shell casings and two pistol shell casings from the scene, underlining the violent nature of the attack.
The body of the deceased suspect has been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue for preservation, autopsy and identification.
The Accra Regional Police Command has taken over investigations into the incident and is pursuing the second suspect, who remains at large.
The command has appealed to members of the public with information that could assist in the arrest of the fleeing suspect to report to the nearest police station or contact the police through emergency numbers 18555 or 191.
The incident once again highlights the security risks faced by mobile money vendors and cash-intensive small businesses, particularly those who move large sums of money without dedicated security protection.
Mobile money vendors have increasingly become targets for armed robbers because of the volume of cash many handle daily. The Lashibi attack follows similar incidents in other parts of the country, including an April 2026 attack on a mobile money vendor in Tema Community 5, after which two suspected robbers were later killed in a confrontation with police.
Security analysts have repeatedly warned that the growth of mobile money services must be matched by stronger safety protocols, including safer cash movement, improved surveillance, rapid police response systems and greater collaboration between financial service providers, agents and law enforcement agencies.
For many mobile money operators, especially independent agents, the business remains heavily exposed to physical cash risks. Vendors often operate in open spaces, serve high customer volumes and hold significant sums for deposits and withdrawals, making them vulnerable to surveillance and attack.
The latest incident is likely to renew calls for stricter security arrangements around mobile money operations, especially for vendors handling large balances.
It may also intensify debate over whether service providers and regulators should develop minimum safety guidelines for high-volume agents, including cash limits, insurance protection, emergency alert systems and access to secure cash collection services.
For now, police say investigations are continuing, with efforts underway to arrest the second suspect.
The Lashibi incident ended with the recovery of the stolen GH¢140,000, but it also reinforces a broader concern: mobile money has become central to Ghana’s financial system, yet many of the people who keep that system running at the retail level remain exposed to serious security threats.
