In a shocking display of audacity, four masked gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles raided the Agro Ecom Company Limited Cocoa Depot in Adansi Ansah, Fomena escaping with over GH₵1 million in cash.
The attack occurred around 6:20 p.m., leaving the local community shaken. The robbers targeted the depot manager’s vehicle, a GMC Terrain 2 with registration number GS 9576-22, riddling it with bullets before fleeing. The district officer’s vehicle also sustained significant damage during the heist.
This incident adds to a troubling pattern of cocoa depot robberies in Ghana, with a similar attack reported at the Juaboso cocoa depot in December 2019, where robbers made away with an undisclosed amount.
The Fomena depot, one of the largest in the Ashanti Region, stores thousands of bags of cocoa beans. This attack not only disrupts operations but also raises serious questions about the security of Ghana’s cocoa industry, which contributes approximately 30% of the country’s export earnings.
Police have launched an extensive manhunt for the suspects, believed to be hiding in nearby communities. A combined team from New Edubiasi and Adansi Fomena is leading the effort to apprehend the perpetrators.
Authorities and stakeholders in the cocoa sector are now calling for enhanced security measures to protect critical infrastructure. With the increasing frequency of such robberies, it is evident that a comprehensive approach is required to safeguard one of Ghana’s most vital economic sectors.
