On Saturday, November 2, the bustling Adabraka Market in Accra was shaken by a brazen daylight robbery that has left local vendors, shoppers, and residents rattled and concerned about safety. The incident, carried out in full view of bystanders, saw four masked men, heavily armed and organized, targeting a man in a red Toyota Corolla parked near the busy marketplace.
The scene quickly turned chaotic as the robbers moved in, drawing their weapons and firing multiple shots into the air to disperse the crowd. In a matter of minutes, they successfully made off with large sacks of cash, leaving behind a community reeling from the shock of witnessing such a bold crime.
Eyewitnesses described how the robbers, dressed in dark attire with their faces covered, approached the parked Toyota with calculated speed. The robbers moved with a confidence that unsettled everyone nearby, especially as they raised their guns without hesitation. As shots rang out, vendors and shoppers scrambled for cover, ducking behind market stalls and nearby structures to shield themselves from the danger. The sound of gunfire echoed through the market, creating a sense of panic and fear among those who were simply going about their day.
A local gold dealer, one of the many who operate around Adabraka Market, recounted the frightening moments of the heist. “We deal in gold here, and we heard a loud noise, and we realised it was sporadic shooting. I can’t even talk; I’m surprised. We hid and locked our gate, but they didn’t come to our end,” the dealer explained, his voice still tinged with the shock of the incident. “We heard them saying, ‘open the boot,’ and we saw them carrying bags of money from some of the shops.” This witness, like many others, was left shaken by the suddenness and boldness of the crime.
As soon as they reached the Toyota, the robbers forced their way into the vehicle and located their target: large sacks of cash that had been stored in the car. Without wasting time, the robbers quickly transferred the bags into their own getaway vehicle, a Toyota Highlander, parked nearby. In a move that added to the surreal nature of the robbery, the attackers threw some money into the air, likely to distract onlookers and keep the crowd focused on the falling cash rather than their escape.
Another witness, a vendor who has been operating in the area for years, provided additional details, noting the prevalence of gold dealer shops in the vicinity. “There are several gold dealer shops here, so one of the owners of the shops had bags containing money in his Toyota Corolla. Immediately he landed, the robbers approached the car and took the money away,” the vendor recounted. “This is the second time such an incident has happened. The police came in late; by the time they arrived, the armed robbers had already escaped with the bags of money in their Toyota Highlander. They fired multiple gunshots. They spread some money in the air to distract onlookers’ attention and scare them away.”
The robbery itself lasted only a few minutes, but its impact on the community has been profound. Residents and business owners in the area are now feeling a heightened sense of vulnerability, particularly as this incident marks the second major robbery of this kind in the past year. Many are left wondering how a robbery of such scale and boldness could take place in a crowded area without immediate intervention from the authorities. Despite the crowd, the robbers executed their plan with precision, showing a level of coordination and fearlessness that has alarmed many.
Video footage taken by onlookers during the heist has since gone viral on social media, spreading the shocking images of gunmen moving swiftly and methodically through the marketplace. The footage has sparked an outcry among residents and netizens, with many expressing concern over the lack of immediate police response and the apparent ease with which the robbers conducted their operation. As the videos circulate, they have brought national attention to the safety issues facing busy commercial areas like Adabraka Market, where people are now questioning the effectiveness of local security measures.
The Ghana Police Service has yet to release an official statement about the robbery, and the lack of response has only added to the frustration among those who witnessed the event. According to some residents, the delayed arrival of the police allowed the robbers to make their escape unchallenged, adding to concerns about how well protected public spaces are in the capital. In the days following the incident, community members have called for increased police presence in the area, fearing that the growing trend of armed robberies could become even more frequent if not addressed.
This daylight heist has not only highlighted gaps in public safety but has also raised questions about the ability of local businesses to operate safely in an environment where the threat of robbery appears to be rising. Many shop owners, particularly those dealing in high-value goods like gold, are feeling increasingly uneasy. Some have already started discussing the possibility of hiring private security to help protect their businesses, while others are urging the authorities to take stronger action to ensure the safety of shoppers and vendors alike.
The absence of an immediate police response has added another layer of frustration for the market’s vendors, some of whom have invested years into their businesses only to now feel that they must constantly watch their backs. Several vendors have shared stories of near-misses with previous attempted robberies, underscoring the tense atmosphere that now permeates the market. One vendor remarked, “It’s hard to feel safe when something like this happens in broad daylight, and we have no assurance from the police that it won’t happen again. We need action.”
With the robbers still at large and no arrests yet made, Adabraka Market remains on edge, with residents left to process the unsettling reality that such crimes could easily happen again. The situation has amplified calls for more robust security policies to protect heavily populated areas and prevent criminals from taking advantage of the bustling city atmosphere.
As the police continue their investigation, the community is hoping for more than just reassurances. They are looking for tangible improvements in security, better police response times, and an end to the recent surge of robberies that has left many feeling unsafe. Until then, Adabraka Market, once a place of everyday business and lively commerce, remains overshadowed by the memory of a robbery that took only minutes but left a lasting impact on those who witnessed it.
