Kumasi, Feb 28, GNA - The Ashanti Regional police has appealed to journalists to be patient and allow the police to investigate the death of Mr Samuel Ennin, the Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

Deputy Commissioner of Police Frank Adu-Poku, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, said the fact that the police had not yet been able to arrest the perpetrators of the murder did not mean the police are not working.

Briefing journalists in Kumasi on the arrest of some criminals in the region, Mr Adu-Poku said the police investigative machinery was on the ground and gave the assurance that the perpetrators would be arrested.

He urged journalists who had received death threats to inform the police.

He said following the murder of Mr Ennin, the police had received reports that some people were threatening other prominent persons including journalists in the Kumasi metropolis with death and said the police were working hard to protect all citizens in the city. Mr Adu-Poku said eight suspected car snatchers and a car dealer who had been on the police wanted list for sometime now had been arrested.

Osei Wayo, a 45-year-old car dealer at the Airport Roundabout and known to be dealing in stolen cars, was arrested together with Benjamin Danquah, Akwasi Prempeh, Mohammed Mumuni alias "Oldman", Kwadwo Kuni, Sumaila Musah, William Sarfo and Maxwell Kwaku Sarpong alias "Macho", all car snatchers.

They operated in the Abrepo, Ahodwo, Maakro, Aburaso, Ejisu, Konongo, Regional Co-ordinating Council area and the Officers Mess area in Kumasi.

Mr Adu-Poku said some disguised themselves as policemen and robbed their victims at gunpoint.

He said a labourer at the Striking Force Unit of the Police Service, Peter Kanjaga, had also been arrested for giving information to one Kwame Ayew, an alleged armed robber from Sandema. Ayew had been involved in armed robberies in Buokrom, Kenyase, Sepe-Dote, Duase, Ashh FM area, and TUC among others and has been arrested.

The police retrieved from him three pump action guns, four laptops, cameras, mobile phones, television sets, motorbike, and VW golf saloon car, among others.