Two lance corporals have been put before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly abetting the theft of 16 CZ assault rifles belonging to the Ghana Police Service.
Lance Corporals William Atia Asitanga, 32, and Sulemana Zanya Abdul-Rahman, 27, have been charged with abetment of crime, namely stealing. Asitanga is facing an additional charge of stealing rifles.
They pleaded not guilty before the trial judge, Evelyn Asamoah. The court has, however, remanded them into lawful custody.
Meanwhile, the prosecution, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Emmanuel Nyamekye, said the police have been able to retrieve some of the weapons and prayed the court to give them time to conclude investigations and file their disclosures.
The court granted the prosecution’s request and adjourned the matter to September 10, 2025.
The facts before the court indicate that the Ghana Police Service is the complainant in the case. The prosecution said Asitanga was stationed at the National Counter Terrorism Department, Accra, and also served as the Armourer in charge of arms and ammunition at the department. Abdul-Rahman was stationed at Asiwa in the Bekwai District in the Ashanti Region.
In March 2024, an internal audit revealed that 16 CZ assault rifles were missing. Asitanga, who was in charge of the Armoury, could not account for the rifles, prompting investigations.
Preliminary investigations led to the arrest of the two accused, who are assisting with ongoing investigations.