Two persons suspected to be criminals have been arrested in Accra, in a dawn operation by the police to rid the city of criminals in the wake of incessant armed robberies in Accra and parts of the country.

Identities of the two suspects and where they were arrested from are being withheld by the Police for security reasons, TV3’s Godfred Tanan reported Thursday.

A G3 riffle, two pistols, 14 rounds of ammunition, masks, and hand gloves were retrieved from one of the suspects. The items were contained in a backpack hidden in a bathroom.

The second suspect, who the Police believe had returned from operation, had on him mobile phones, machete and an amount of GHC635.

Director General in-charge of Operations, COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare, explained the exercise is to assure the public that the police are putting in efforts to arrest criminals in the country.

A wave of armed robbery attacks in recent times, especially in Accra, Tema and Kumasi have caused many Ghanaians to live in fear with some people criticizing the police for being reactive in their response to crimes.

Robberies have increased in the last two months with 89 recorded cases in January, 38 more than that what was recorded in the same month last year.

A 54-year-old Lebanese was on Wednesday trailed from a bank in Tema, shot dead and robbed of GHC200,000 exactly 24 hours after a motorcycle dealership was brazenly robbed by some armed men in a movie-style.

Again, over 20 forex bureau and mobile money operators have in the last two months been robbed in Accra and Tema alone but Tuesday’s broad day light robbery in Accra has caused the public to criticize Ghana Police.

But the Interior Minister Ambrose Dery has rejected the criticisms of security failure in Ghana, stating the security agencies are in full control of affairs despite the recent upsurge in criminal activities, especially armed robberies.

Describing the recent spate of armed robbery attacks in the country, particularly in Accra as “regrettable”, Mr. Dery assured Ghanaians that the Police are on the beat following up on leads.

“…Clearly, we haven’t lost control at all; what we’re doing is making sure that we follow the leads”, he told 3FM’s Kwakye Afreh-Nuamah Wednesday on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 28th February Christiansburg crossroads in Accra.