The Wenchi Magistrate Court, presided over by His Worship Issa Abdul Wahab, has remanded 28-year-old Joseph Adinkra into police custody for two weeks over allegations of stealing an AK-47 service rifle with serial number AE 405323.
Adinkra, a civilian employee of the Ghana Police Service who works as a cleaner at the Wenchi Police Station and resides in Akrobi, a suburb of Wenchi in the Bono Region, was arraigned following the incident.
Detective Inspector John Agyare, the prosecutor, recounted that on January 3, 2025, at around 5:20 a.m., a police officer returned the rifle to the charge office after a night patrol.
The weapon was duly recorded and stored under the counter alongside other firearms. Shortly after, Adinkra arrived at the charge office to begin his morning cleaning duties.
The counter Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) and the station orderly briefly stepped out to allow him to clean the area thoroughly.
During their absence, Adinkra reportedly seized the opportunity to steal the rifle, along with a loaded SMG magazine containing 30 rounds of ammunition valued at GH¢52,834.99.
The prosecutor explained that Adinkra concealed the weapon under his clothes, walked past the duty officers at the veranda without raising suspicion, and later hid the rifle in an old brown Ecola bag found in a tricycle parked near the charge office. He then returned to the charge office to complete his cleaning duties.
At approximately 5:40 a.m., the station’s armourer arrived to secure the returned rifles in the armoury. Upon cross-checking, he discovered that the rifle and magazine were missing. Chief Inspector Seth Agyei, the complainant and the station officer, was immediately informed and filed an official report.
During the subsequent investigation, Adinkra initially denied any involvement but later confessed and led investigators to the tricycle, where the rifle and ammunition were retrieved.
In his caution statement, he admitted that a friend had promised him GH¢7,000 if he could procure a weapon for use in illegal mining activities.
The prosecutor emphasized the gravity of the offense, noting that investigations are ongoing to determine the identity of the individual who intended to purchase the weapon.
Adinkra has been charged and brought before the court, which has adjourned the case to January 21, 2025, for further proceedings.
