The Ghana Police Service has launched a manhunt for Patricia Osei Boateng, the wife of slain armed robbery suspect Eric Antwi Duku, over her alleged involvement in a string of violent carjacking operations in Kumasi and other parts of the country.
Investigators believe she played a key supporting role in the activities of a robbery network widely referred to as the “Duku Syndicate,” which has been linked to multiple armed attacks and vehicle thefts.
According to police sources, Patricia Osei Boateng is suspected of assisting her husband during operations by disguising herself as a nurse in order to help him evade security checks and avoid detection. Authorities claim this tactic allowed members of the syndicate to move without raising suspicion while carrying out surveillance or executing their plans. Investigators also allege that she travelled to Dubai shortly after some of the robbery incidents, a development that has triggered further inquiries into possible international connections tied to the disposal and resale of stolen vehicles.
The intensified search for Boateng follows the fatal shooting of Andrews Kwame Amankwah, father-in-law of GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi. Mr Amankwah was attacked on 10 February 2026 at Owhim Tigo Junction in Kumasi during what police described as a violent carjacking operation. He was reportedly ambushed and shot by armed men who made away with his Toyota Hilux vehicle. Although he was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment, he succumbed to his injuries on 18 February, five days after the attack.
In a press briefing on 24 February, the Ashanti Regional Police Command confirmed the arrest of four suspects believed to be directly connected to the robbery and murder. One of the suspects was found in possession of the deceased’s Samsung mobile phone and has since been arraigned before the Asokwa Circuit Court and remanded. The other suspects are also assisting police with investigations into the activities of the syndicate.
Police further disclosed that alleged gang leader Eric Antwi Duku sustained gunshot wounds during a police operation on 22 February and was later pronounced dead at hospital. Items reportedly retrieved from him include a pistol, eight rounds of ammunition, a tracking detection device, forged vehicle documents and a Toyota Corolla S suspected to have been used in criminal activities. The firearm has since been sent for forensic and ballistic examination as part of ongoing investigations.
Authorities believe the group forms part of a larger organised criminal network specialising in the theft of Toyota Hilux and Land Cruiser vehicles for resale through both local and international channels. Intelligence gathered by investigators suggests that some stolen vehicles may have been transported through the northern border corridor for onward distribution outside the country. The suspects are also said to have confessed to involvement in multiple robbery operations in Kumasi and Tarkwa, with police linking the syndicate to another fatal robbery incident at Kronum.
Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno has reaffirmed the Service’s determination to dismantle organised criminal groups operating across the country. He assured the public that law enforcement agencies will pursue all individuals connected to the syndicate and ensure they are brought to justice through lawful means.
Police say Patricia Osei Boateng is currently being sought to assist with investigations and may face charges if evidence confirms her alleged role in aiding the robbery operations. Investigations remain ongoing as authorities work to identify additional accomplices involved in vehicle theft, document forgery and the disposal of stolen vehicles.
