A combined team of Military and Police personnel yesterday rounded up about 2000 people including 15 suspected hardened criminals’ who have been on the police wanted list for sometime now during a special exercise at their hideouts at Agbogbloshie, Sodom and Gomora, all suburbs of Accra.

The exercise, code-named Operation Recovery, which aims at arresting armed robbers and those engaged in social vices along the Korle Lagoon, began at 5.30 am.

It involved 800 security personnel, who were fully armed and whose activities were also aided by a military helicopter that hovered around the area of operation which was cordoned off for well over seven hours.

The troops, in a well co-ordinated operation, moved systematically from one area to the other, conducting searches and in places where the inmates proved difficult, force was applied.

There were instances where some residents deliberately put padlocks on their doors while they were inside the room, creating the impression that the occupants had gone out.

Ammunitions, including AK 47 bullets, locally manufactured pistols, military accoutrements, knives, motor bikes as well as large quantities of dry leaves, suspected to be Indian hemp and cocaine, were seized during the operation.

The suspects have been taken to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command for screening after which those without any criminal record would be released. Briefing newsmen during the operation, the General Officer Commanding the Southern Command, Brigadier J.B. Danquah, said the operation is in line with the Defence Minister’s declaration of “war against armed robbery and indiscipline in the country”.

He said yesterday’s operation which marked the beginning of the war on criminals, would be in two phases under the joint command of Lt. Col. John Bosco Guyiri, Commanding Officer of 5BN and Chief Superintendent Kofi Boakye, Deputy Greater Accra Regional Police Commander.

He explained that Agbogbloshie was chosen for the start of the operation because of intelligence reports that the area serves as one of the dens for hardened criminals.

He said the operation which is on-going, will be extended to the other parts of the regions.

Brig. Danquah said “the country is for all of us and nobody will come and develop it for us”.

He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to be law abiding citizens to complement government’s effort at ensuring accelerated growth and development.

He warned people who collaborate with armed robbers that they would not be spared if arrested.

Chief Supt. Boakye called on the public to volunteer information that will lead to the arrest of criminals, who, he said, do not live in isolation but are located in the communities.

He said the war on criminals also targets collaborators of armed robbers including those who provide them with shelter.

He said those who buy goods from armed robbers would also be smoked out.

Chief Supt. Boakye warned landlords to be careful with people they rent their rooms to, adding that landlords of people who are arrested and proven to be armed robbers, would be severely dealt with.

Lt. Col. Guyiri said the activities of the armed robbers have been so daring and elusive that they have created the impression as if the security services are incapable of handling the spate of robberies.

He said the operation would be sustained till the last armed robber is flushed out to restore confidence in the ordinary Ghanaian about the capabilities of the security services.