About 45 passengers were on Thursday at 1900 hours attacked at the outskirts of Kuano, near Suhum in the Eastern Region, by a gang of five armed robbers.

They blocked the Suhum- Asamankese road and succeeded in collecting mobile phones, monies, travelling bags and other personal effects.

Speaking to newsmen, a victim, Mr Lord de-Graft Aikins said there was no casualty, but those who proved stubborn to the attackers' orders received "slabs."

He said what made the attack frightening was the sporadic gunshots. "They wielded guns" but could not tell if they were locally manufactured. They spoke the Twi language, but not fluent; "I have the conviction that they are foreigners.

Mr de-Graft Aikins said the passengers were in two taxis, two buses and a Tundra pickup, all moving towards Suhum, except a red bus whose direction was towards Asamankese.

"A driver of my taxi was stopped at a gunpoint and ordered the five of us to alight from it to join the other passengers. We were also ordered to lie on the ground with our faces down," and each individual was asked to give his or her phone, he said.

The armed robbers then conducted a thorough search in every pocket, under the breast and pants for money, and some of the women who were reluctant to comply were slashed with sharp knives.

The victim said it was his first encounter with armed robbers and the manner in which he was heckled and his coat removed, before snatching his bag which contained vital documents including various Ghana Journalists Association, Ghana News Agency, ATM and Voter's Registration cards was pathetic.

The robbers hit his laptop on the ground damaging it.

He has since made a report to the Suhum Police.

When contacted, Suhum District Police Commander confirmed the incident and said when information reached him, he dispatched his men to the scene of the incident, but no arrest was made.