3 Ghana Police Officers Return $5,000 Found in Roadside Bag

When three police officers arrived for their Saturday morning shift at the Hansua Barrier near Techiman, Ghana, they spotted what looked like an ordinary bag lying in the roadside dust. What they did next would restore one man's faith and challenge a nation's cynicism.

The bag, known locally as a "Ghana Must Go" sack, had fallen from a speeding vehicle that was long gone. Inside, the officers found identification details and something else: 85,000 Ghana cedis in neatly stacked five-cedi notes, equivalent to roughly $5,000 USD.

For context, this sum represents years of savings in a country where public trust in police often runs low. No one was watching. The vehicle had disappeared. The owner likely believed his money was gone forever.

The officers didn't hesitate. They called the number written on the bag.

By Monday, Stephen Ofori stood inside the Techiman Regional Police Command watching officers return his life savings. After verification questions confirmed his ownership, they handed over every cent.

"I am honestly surprised at the conduct of these officers," Ofori said. "I have come to learn that there are good ones among the police unit and some are God fearing too."

Why This Inspires

This story matters because it flips a painful narrative. In many communities worldwide, police corruption feels like an unchangeable reality. These three officers proved that integrity isn't rare; it just needs to be celebrated.

Regional Commander DCOP Owusu Ansah sees their actions as a standard, not an exception. He's asked Ghana's Inspector General of Police to formally recognize the officers, sending a message that honesty doesn't go unnoticed.

The symbolic power runs deeper than one returned bag. Every time an institution's members choose character over convenience, they crack open the door for public trust to return. When those moments get celebrated publicly, they create permission for others to follow.

These officers faced temptation when no one was looking and chose the harder path. Their decision returned more than money to Stephen Ofori. It returned something a nation desperately needs: proof that serving with honor is still possible.

In Techiman, a simple roadside bag has become a symbol of what happens when people sworn to protect choose integrity over opportunity.