Ghana police arrest eight in Kumasi over alleged street gambling scam targeting passersby

Ashanti Regional Police say the group lured people into “street games” at Adehyeman in Kumasi, then used deceptive tactics to take cash and personal items; officers seized GH¢15,260 suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Police in Ghana’s Ashanti Region have arrested eight people for allegedly running street gambling games designed to defraud passersby in Kumasi, after an intelligence-led operation on March 2, 2026. According to police accounts reported by local media, the suspects were operating around Adehyeman, drawing members of the public into what appeared to be casual games before using tricks that ensured victims lost money and, in some cases, personal belongings.

The suspects were arrested while allegedly “in the act,” following information gathered by the Regional Police Intelligence Directorate. Police said they retrieved GH¢15,260 during the operation, describing it as suspected proceeds from the alleged scam; the cash has been retained as an exhibit while investigations continue.

In a statement attributed to DSP Godwin Ahianyo of the Ashanti Regional Police Public Affairs Unit, authorities warned that such street games are often structured to steal from unsuspecting victims, urging residents to avoid gambling activities organised by unknown individuals in public spaces and to report suspicious activity to the nearest police station.

The case highlights a recurring challenge for city authorities: street “games” that look harmless can function as organised fraud. The next step will be whether prosecutors pursue charges that reflect not only illegal gambling, but also the alleged deception and theft elements described by police—signals that enforcement is shifting from disruption to accountability.