GUNMEN ATTACK ECOBANK, DAILY GRAPHIC, FRI JULY 22, 2011

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

TWO unidentified armed men yesterday morning carried out a daring operation when they stormed the Accra Mall branch of Ecobank near the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange and made away with an unspecified amount of money, mainly in foreign currencies.

The incident, which occurred about 8:50 a.m. moments after the bank had opened for the day's business, left both workers and eyewitnesses in profound amazement.

Some eyewitnesses, meanwhile, suspected that the operation might have been supported by an insider because of the manner in which it was carried out.

Not even the presence of a private security alarm van with occupants could deter the robbers as they carried out the act and left before the bank staff and a security officer manning the frontage of the bank could draw the attention of policemen on duty at adjacent financial institutions.

Sources close to the bank which confirmed the incident, however, declined to comment because the police had taken up investigations into the incident.

It was, however, unclear whether the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the banking hall had been functioning at the time of the incident.

The sources could also not indicate the whereabouts of the policeman detailed to maintain security at the bank at the time of the incident.

The witnesses, who pleaded anonymity, said a member of the robbers, suspected to be about 23, entered the bank wearing a raincoat, following the morning downpour, ostensibly to transact business.

They said unknown to the bank workers, one of the suspected armed robbers had held the security man at the main entrance hostage, while the other young man moved directly to the teller responsible for foreign currency accounts, pointed a gun to his head and took away currencies in his possession.

The two robbers thereafter sped off on a motorbike.
When the Daily Graphic visited the bank about 11:30 a.m., the Branch Manager, Mrs Linda Morrison, was locked up in a meeting with top officials from the Ecobank Head Office on the incident.

At the time of the visit by the Daily Graphic, armed policemen were seen patrolling the premises, while normal banking business was being conducted.

Policemen from the Airport District Police Command were also there to take photographs and statements from staff to enable them to begin investigations into the robbery.

Source: Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic