Residents of Gbagblakope, near the Diamond Cement Factory in Aflao, are reeling with fear and outrage following the brutal killing of a mobile money vendor by armed robbers in a daylight attack that has intensified growing concerns over the safety of mobile money operators in Ghana.
The victim, 35-year-old Christopher Ahordo, popularly known as Colombo, was reportedly shot dead around 6:15 p.m. on Monday, April 28, after two masked assailants armed with pump-action guns stormed his shop and made away with a bag suspected to contain cash.
Local journalist Sylvia Awumey, who has been tracking the story, reported that Colombo was working past his usual 5:00 p.m. closing time when the incident occurred. Eyewitnesses say he was preparing to close when the gunmen approached in long robes, ordered him at gunpoint, seized the bag, and shot him at close range before disappearing into a nearby bush while firing warning shots to deter bystanders.
Terrified onlookers were unable to rush to his aid immediately due to the attackers’ indiscriminate shooting. His body was later retrieved by residents and sent to the Ketu South Municipal Hospital morgue.
The Ketu South Municipal Police have launched an investigation, but no arrests had been made at the time of this report.
This incident adds to a disturbing trend of fatal attacks targeting mobile money operators across Ghana. Several similar robberies have been recorded this year, particularly in the Ashanti Region, raising alarms over the vulnerability of vendors who often operate without adequate security.
The murder of Colombo has sparked renewed calls from residents, mobile money associations, and civil society groups for heightened police patrols, installation of CCTV cameras at vendor points, and stronger regulation to protect operators from what is fast becoming a national security issue.
As investigations continue, the Aflao community mourns one of its own—a man remembered not only for his services but also for his gentle demeanor.
