Atta Ayi's CV

Crime & Punishment
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
By: GhanaWeb Correspondent

Name: Aryee Aryeetey, aka Ata Ayi, Yemoh Odoi, Baaba Lucky Age: Mid-30s Occupation: Armed Robber, occasionally provides consultancy services for other gangs Marital Status: Married with two daughters

Robbery Record:

1. April 4, 2004, 11am – Forcibly took 22 million cedis from Samuel Adjei, a businessman.

Aryee and his gang trailed Samuel Adjei from Prudential Bank, where the victim had withdrawn money. At the SDA Junction where the victim stopped to give the money to his wife, he was crossed by the robbers amid firing. They took the money and fled in an Opel Astra. One live ammunition was retrieved from the scene.

2. May 4, 2004, 11am – Forcibly took 20 million cedis from Gifty Adom and Janet Lumor

The robbers trailed the victims from Barclays Bank, Osu to the main gate at the Trade Fair Site, La. Robbers crossed the victims amid firing, took the money and jewelry.

3. May 19, 2004, 11.15am – Forcibly took 6.6 million cedis from Rev. W. K. Amaning.

Aryee’s gang trailed the reverend minister from the Osu Standard Chartered Bank where he had withdrawn 56 million cedis. They entered the premises of the Apostolic Church but could not snatch the bag containing the money because of the vigilance of the reverend. However, they entered into an office and met one pastor who was checking the money. They fired shots and snatched six million cedis. Two empty shells, similar to the one above, were retrieved from the scene. No one was injured.

4. May 6, 2004 – 11.30am – Forcibly took 17 million cedis from Esi Darko, MD of Mega Zillion Limited

Aryee’s gang trailed the victim from Tema Community 9 SG-SSB from where she had withdrawn 35 million cedis. They caught up with her at Batsona. Brandishing various weapons, they forced her to give them 17 million cedis. They also took the ignition key to her Mercedes and took away two mobile phones.

5. May 17, 2004, 1pm – Seized 18 million cedis from a salesgirl of Dependable Herbal Company

Robbers trailed the lady from Madina Prudential Bank. The car stopped briefly at a house in Madina and the robbers, wearing masks, attacked the salesgirl and took the money at gunpoint.

6. May 28, 2004 – Took 18 million cedis from Erasmus Kofi Wayo, a building contractor

Atta Aryee and his gang trailed the victim from the Adabraka Trust Bank to a secluded location where they took the money from him at gunpoint.

7. May 18, 2004 – Took 144 million cedis from Musah Hassan.

Modus operandi same as in (6).

8. June 1, 2004 – Stole 500 million cedis from Moses Ofei, MD of Farm Anas.

Modus operandi same as in (6).



Source: GhanaWeb Correspondent

Crime & Punishment
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
By: GhanaWeb Correspondent

Name: Aryee Aryeetey, aka Ata Ayi, Yemoh Odoi, Baaba Lucky Age: Mid-30s Occupation: Armed Robber, occasionally provides consultancy services for other gangs Marital Status: Married with two daughters

Robbery Record:

1. April 4, 2004, 11am – Forcibly took 22 million cedis from Samuel Adjei, a businessman.

Aryee and his gang trailed Samuel Adjei from Prudential Bank, where the victim had withdrawn money. At the SDA Junction where the victim stopped to give the money to his wife, he was crossed by the robbers amid firing. They took the money and fled in an Opel Astra. One live ammunition was retrieved from the scene.

2. May 4, 2004, 11am – Forcibly took 20 million cedis from Gifty Adom and Janet Lumor

The robbers trailed the victims from Barclays Bank, Osu to the main gate at the Trade Fair Site, La. Robbers crossed the victims amid firing, took the money and jewelry.

3. May 19, 2004, 11.15am – Forcibly took 6.6 million cedis from Rev. W. K. Amaning.

Aryee’s gang trailed the reverend minister from the Osu Standard Chartered Bank where he had withdrawn 56 million cedis. They entered the premises of the Apostolic Church but could not snatch the bag containing the money because of the vigilance of the reverend. However, they entered into an office and met one pastor who was checking the money. They fired shots and snatched six million cedis. Two empty shells, similar to the one above, were retrieved from the scene. No one was injured.

4. May 6, 2004 – 11.30am – Forcibly took 17 million cedis from Esi Darko, MD of Mega Zillion Limited

Aryee’s gang trailed the victim from Tema Community 9 SG-SSB from where she had withdrawn 35 million cedis. They caught up with her at Batsona. Brandishing various weapons, they forced her to give them 17 million cedis. They also took the ignition key to her Mercedes and took away two mobile phones.

5. May 17, 2004, 1pm – Seized 18 million cedis from a salesgirl of Dependable Herbal Company

Robbers trailed the lady from Madina Prudential Bank. The car stopped briefly at a house in Madina and the robbers, wearing masks, attacked the salesgirl and took the money at gunpoint.

6. May 28, 2004 – Took 18 million cedis from Erasmus Kofi Wayo, a building contractor

Atta Aryee and his gang trailed the victim from the Adabraka Trust Bank to a secluded location where they took the money from him at gunpoint.

7. May 18, 2004 – Took 144 million cedis from Musah Hassan.

Modus operandi same as in (6).

8. June 1, 2004 – Stole 500 million cedis from Moses Ofei, MD of Farm Anas.

Modus operandi same as in (6).



Source: GhanaWeb Correspondent

The brain behind most of the brutal armed robberies in Accra

Police have arrested the most wanted man in Ghana. Atta Ayi was arrested on Monday afternoon at his hideout in the Teshie Tsui Bleo surburb of Accra. His girlfriend, suspected to be an accomplice, was also arrested in the raid.

According to police Atta Ayi is the brain behind most of the brutal armed robberies in Accra. He and members of his gang are alleged to have forcibly stolen money, cars, jewelry and other valuables from various people in the national capital. They are also alleged to have murdered several people who resisted their attacks. Recently, the gang is said to have adopted a new strategy of trailing people who go to banks to collect money. They usually follow their victims into secluded locations where they threaten them with death if they do not give up their monies.

Police have been on Atta Ayi's heels for months. His deputy, Emmanuel Tetteh, also known as Mpata, was arrested last week. It is believed that information provided by Mpata might have helped to track down the elusive Atta Ayi.

Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, Kofi Boakye says with the arrest of Atta Ayi and his gang ga whole generation of armed robbers has been broken up. Now, he says, the police can now concentrate on tracking a new up and coming but less-hardened armed robbers.

An Accra High Court has sentenced Aryee Ayittey alias Ataa Ayi and three others to one hundred and thirty nine (139) years in Prison with hard labour. The Court presided over by Justice Baffoe Bonney sentenced Ataa Ayi to 70 years while Samuel Kweku Anane, alias Sammy Tugah, Roger Kobla Agbodoga, alias Rojay and Raymond Ameh, received 69 years each.
Atta Ayi who was described by the police as the nation's most notorious bandit had a high price tag placed on his head by the police. His whereabouts before he was captured prompted the largest manhunt in the nation's crime history, with expensive billboards, bearing his portrait, mounted in five of the ten regions of the country. Though they pleaded not guilty, the court found them guilty of conspiracy and robbery. The case for the prosecution was that on October 14, 2003, Mr Bernard Boadi Agyeman, Managing Director of Prism Consult Limited, sent one of his workers, Ilaisu Mamudi, to cash a cheque for 70 million cedis from the Op eibea House branch of the Standard Chartered Bank, near Kotoka International Airport.

Ghana's Most Wanted Arrested

General News of Friday, 14 March 2003

Police on Thursday arrested two top notorious armed robbers, one of whom the Greater Accra Regional Command recently posted 10 million cedis reward to anyone who would assist in his capture.
Mr Bright Oduro, Regional Crime Officer, told the Ghana News Agency that Hope was known among his fellow robbers as " Kingpin" or "Striker" because he killed his victims upon the least resistance during robberies.
"He is noted for his intolerance and ready shooting."
The other robber, Ziggy is also connected with some of the major robberies in the Metropolis.
Narrating how Hope was apprehended, Mr Oduro, who is a Superintendent of Police, said that following a tip-off, the Police went to Adabraka Sahara around 0100 hours on Thursday and approached Hope and some of his accomplices.
He said upon seeing the Police, Hope jumped into the Odaw River and swam across it and went over a wall and entered the compound of a warehouse.
Unfortunately for Hope some dogs and the Watchman of the warehouse attacked Hope and during his struggle with the Watchman, the Police, who had been chasing him, got to the scene and arrested him.
Upon initial interrogation he admitted masterminding some of the robberies in the Metropolis.
He said, " Hope is noted to be merciless. He shoots on the slightest resistance put up by any of his victims."
He said Hope led the robbery attack in which one Quartey was killed, when he refused to surrender his Mercedes Benz car at Liquart at North Kaneshie in December last year. Other accomplices in that incident were Apetoe and Cash, who were still at large.
He said Hope also planned and executed the shooting to death of Mufu, an ex-convict, at Flamingo, near Russia on February 3 this year, because they thought he was a Police informer.
He said Hope was again involved in the Tantra Hill robbery on January 18 this year in which he shot the victim in the thigh and took away his BMW car and went and sold it to one Osei Wayo in Kumasi.

Ibrahim Jibiri, alias " Chop Better" now in Police grips, Aryeetey and one Isaac were the accomplices of Hope in that robbery.

Another robbery masterminded by Hope was on January 16 this year when with other robbers - Owuraku, Apetoe and Aryeetey they trailed a woman, who had returned from Germany from the airport to her Kwashieman residence and robbed her of 7,000 Euros and personal belongings.

He said several robberies had been traced to Hope, whose modus operandi was to either maim or kill his victims.
Mr Oduro said Ziggy, who was arrested upon a tip off at his hideout at Achimota while having his bath, was involved in mainly car-snatching incidents and also the tailing of people from the airport and banks at Dansoman and the Industrial area.
He said Ziggy was involved in the incident at Zoti in Lartebiokoshi, where a young woman returning from London was tailed from the airport and robbed of 5,000 Pounds Sterling and on the same day again robbed a businessman of 120 million cedis at Tema Community Two.
He said Ziggy operated with Jerry, who was arrested about two weeks ago, and Otu and Ragga, who were still at large and had been put on the Police wanted list.

Fire scare at Trust Towers

Tuesday, 27 October 2009 12:38 Added by Kwaku Oteng

The smell of burning cables in a recently restored elevator at the Trust Towers building housing several businesses at Adabraka in Accra sent workers tumbling out of their offices Tuesday morning.

Eye witnesses had sent out alarm calls upon smelling the repulsive scent at about 9am, while distress calls were placed to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) headquarters at Cantonments, who responded with rapid speed.

As it turned out, the firemen had virtually no work to do, for technicians from Broll, the management company in charge of the building, had rectified the fault.

Gasping workers counting their blessings were readily referring to last Thursday’s destructive fire at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra which gutted the entire building, and were happy nothing untoward happened.

Radio announcements of the hitch triggered several calls from relations and working partners of the workers and businesses, and for particularly Mr. Jonathan Lamptey, Chief Executive Officer of COMSYS Ghana Limited, the calls were simply inundating.

Early suggestions of the fire scare had announced that his offices, sprawled on the 8th floor of the nine-floor building was on fire. It turned out a huge false alarm, and his business partners were relieved to learn of the development.

The Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, Samuel Sowah Oblejuma, who was part of the fire team, said the building was safe for business after their inspection.


Story by Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Kofi Wayo punches NPP man

A verbal altercation in the studios of Hot Fm, an Accra based private radio station yesterday resulted in Kofi Wayo, founder of the comatose United Renaissance Party (URP), allegedly assaulting a New Patriotic Party (NPP) man, Yaw Adomah Baafi Frimpong.

Wayo was said to have turned the studio into a boxing arena when he threw punches at his hapless victim. A case of assault has been lodged at the Adabraka Police Station in Accra.

Wayo denied the allegation on Citi Fm yesterday but the producer of the programme on Hot Fm confirmed the attack on the NPP man.

According to the victim, Wayo grabbed his shirt and tie and threw hefty punches at him, which landed him on the floor in the process.

The Adabraka Police have mounted a man-hunt for Kofi Wayo to take his statement after a report of assault was made.

According to the victim, Yaw Adomah Baafi Frimpong, who is an activist of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), he honoured an invitation to the Hot Fm studios for a discussion on ways to create employment for the youth.

The programme, he noted, was from 8:00am to 10:00am, adding that after Kofi Wayo had spoken, he took his turn to explain that though government has a part to play in job creation, the youth can also do its bit.

Mr. Frimpong however said that the level of development the NPP brought to Ghana was unprecedented in the annals of the country. 

This assertion, he said, did not go down well with Kofi Wayo, who was frequently interjecting while he spoke.

Wayo then attacked him verbally saying that he should not get close to him (Wayo) because he was stinking badly.

Mr. Frimpong asserted that he did not want to descend into the gutters with the URP man since he represented a refined group of people whom he would not want to disappoint.

An angry Kofi Wayo, who has flirted with several political parties he said, was relentless, insisting he was stinking.

Frimpong then shot back at Wayo, saying he was the stinking one since he smoked cigars. This, he said, infuriated Wayo who pounced on him; punching and kicking him mercilessly.

Suddenly, Wayo’s personal guards from National Security stormed the studios and ordered the victim to go with them to the Castle Annex but he declined.

It took the intervention of the host of the programme, Adakabre Frimpong Manso and his producers to calm tempers down.

The matter has since been reported to the Adabraka police who are currently looking for Kofi Wayo to get his side of the story.

Kofi Wayo was a failed parliamentary contestant for the East Ayawaso seat on the ticket of the NPP.

He then left the NPP for the PNC, which he later described as a ‘chichinga’ party, after which he left to form his own party, URP, operating from a kiosk which he has again abandoned to join the NDC.

He has been described by many as gaining notoriety in heckling and verbally assaulting his political opponents.

By Rocklyn Antonio

Fire Razes Warehouse - Firemen Went Through Hell

The efforts of about 30 fire fighters and policemen to extinguish blazing flames at Adabraka yesterday were hindered by poor city planning, resulting in the complete destruction of a warehouse, an Internet cafe, a cargo truck and a hairdressing salon.

With thick smoke engulfing the neighbourhood and the skyline, hundreds of residents looked on helplessly as the firemen fought the inferno for about two hours before bringing the fire under control at one end of the warehouse.
But the real challenge was to confront the fire fighters from the other end of the warehouse facing Odawna, where the fire had started from, again with no access for the fire tenders to manoeuvre.

The men, therefore, had to improvise by pulling the water hose through a cluster of houses and garages to reach the fire.
By 5.00 p.m., with the structures still exuding smoke, property worth millions of cedis had been totally destroyed in the warehouse, the nearby Internet cafe and the hairdressing salon.
The fire also razed through a wooden structure on top of the warehouse, consuming it completely.
The owners of the warehouse, 2000 Company Limited, said they could not retrieve anything from the fire.
The items in the warehouse and the Internet cafe included bags of rice, baby diapers, insecticides, cooking oil, computers, fridges, travelling bags and cooking utensils.
Explosions could be heard several metres away from the fire and insecticide spraying cans could be seen flying in the smoke, forcing residents nearby to run for their lives.
Residents whom the Daily Graphic interviewed said they had seen sparks of fire emanating from the warehouse about 11.30 a.m. and alerted the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to that.
According to the residents, they decided to help in pulling out items from the burning warehouse but they were stopped by the owners, who thought the residents would steal those items.
Asked about the cause of the fire, the District Fire Officer in charge of the Industrial Area, Mr P. K. Donkor, said it started when a welding machine caught fire which extended to other areas.
He said about 12:04 p.m. the service was informed that a building had caught fire at Adabraka.
He added that on arriving at the scene where a large crowd had gathered, the Fire Service did its best to put out the fire but as of 2:30 p.m. it was still burning with full force, though the GNFS had already used water in four tenders to fight it.
The men ran out of water in the process and had to go searching for some in order to put out the fire, Mr Donkor said.
Officer G.T. Adams of the GNFS appealed to the Ghana Water Company to open all water hydrants in the city.
 
He said the service needed more water for its operations, saying that lack of it made it impossible to save lives and property.
Ms Lydia Amehereyre, whose Internet cafe was adjacent to the warehouse, said she could not save anything from the fire.
 
Source:Graphic Ghana

Male prostitutes practice openly in ADK Accra

Homosexual prostitutes, who were hitherto said to be operating under cover, have now hit the streets of Accra openly soliciting for men, The Mirror investigations have revealed.

The gay harlots operate in and around Adabraka, especially the area around Henri's Place, a popular spot at Adabraka Official Town, known for hosting earring wearing men, suspected to be homosexuals. The homosexual prostitutes also operate in and around Osu and La.

This reporter visited Adabraka on the night of Saturday, June 21, and approached a young man spotting an earring, with his hair permed and cut short, standing under a street light, about two streets away from the Yellow Cab roundabout; and feigned interest in homosexual acts.

And when he was asked whether he was free to go home with this reporter for some fun, he appeared excited and readily reached for the door of the reporter's car but was asked to hold on.

When he was further asked whether he would play the role of a man or woman in bed, he said he was in to satisfy his customers so he could do anything for the patrons provided they paid him good money - a minimum of GH¢50 (or ¢500, 000).

After this reporter had caught his attention, the prostitute, who gave his name as Peter Diallo from Burkina Faso and resident at Alajo, another suburb of Accra, was asked to get another prostitute while this reporter picked up a friend nearby so they could have group sex.

But the "call man" suggested that he could handle two men at a time and advised this reporter to "forget about a second prostitute and open the door for me to sit down so we could go and pick your friend, have fun in a three-man homosexual act and pay GH¢100".

At that point this reporter insisted that the prostitute should go to Henri's Place and get another gay while the reporter also fetched the second customer. With that, this reporter finally drove off.

Later in separate interviews with some residents of Adabraka, they complained about noise pollution from Henri's Place. "They turn up the volume of the sound system so loudly that we can hardly sleep, especially on Fridays and Saturdays," one resident told The Mirror.

"At first, they used to shut the door, closed the windows and used the air conditioner while loud music was played indoors, but since electricity tariffs were increased, they have had to open the door and windows because they cannot use the air conditioners, thus the sound of the music fills the air around here".

"Sometimes, we hear loud arguments over issues such as one man snatching another's boyfriend. Some of the gay lovers also hide in corners, kiss and caress each other but our main problem is the noise pollution," the resident said.

When this reporter visited the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, another hot spot for female prostitutes, the ladies of the night were freely operating very close to what appeared to be a temporary police checkpoint.

It was quite obvious that the police officers on duty were not interested in arresting the call girls as they busily flashed their torchlights into vehicles and engaged drivers in brief chats and waved them to drive on.

At the Togo Embassy and St Thomas Aquinas Senior High School area, also a red light district, female prostitutes were seen walking up and down the street in the full glare of police officers on duty in the area.

Later when this reporter returned to Henri's Place just before midnight, the pub was bubbling with revelry. Men of all shapes and colours (including some foreigners) were seen partying in and outside the spot. Parked close to the spot were posh vehicles - four-wheel drives and sleek saloon cars, which apparently belonged to the revellers.

Under Ghanaian law, male homosexual activity is officially illegal. Criminal Code 1960 - Chapter 6, Sexual Offences Article 105:
"Whoever is guilty of unnatural carnal knowledge - (a) of any person without his consent, is guilty of first degree felony; (b) of any person with his consent, or of any animal, is guilty of a misdemeanor.”


Source: The Mirror