From a Robbery in Kumasi to Protecting Families Across Ghana

“From a Robbery in Kumasi to Protecting Families Across Ghana”

Subtitle:
How Rufai Kasim turned trauma into CarloVan Group, a security and impact-driven venture in Ghana.

A few years ago, I flew from the United States to Ghana for what I thought would be a simple act of friendship.

My friend, comedian Michael Blackson, wanted to buy a home in Ghana. I was living between the U.S. and Kumasi at the time, so I agreed to help with the search and handle the transaction. After weeks of viewings and negotiations, I travelled from Kumasi to Accra, paid for the house, and returned that same night, relieved that everything had worked out.

Hours later, my life changed.

That night in Kumasi, armed men broke into the house and robbed me at gunpoint. They believed I was still holding the cash for the property. In seconds, I went from being the person helping someone else secure a home, to the person whose own safety was violently stripped away.

The incident left me with deep physical and emotional scars. I developed post-traumatic stress symptoms and an intense anxiety about going back to Kumasi. But it also forced me to ask a hard question:

How many other families and businesses in Ghana are living with this same fear – and what can be done about it?

Turning trauma into mission

Instead of letting the robbery define me, I decided it would define my purpose.

I moved to Accra and began studying security systems, surveillance technology and how other countries use tech to prevent crime. I realized that a lot of attacks in Ghana succeed not because people don’t care about security, but because they don’t have access to reliable, professionally designed protection.

That was the beginning of CarloVan Tech, the security arm of what is now CarloVan Group.

Today, CarloVan Tech designs and installs bespoke systems across Ghana – from wireless alarm panels and motion detectors to CCTV, solar-powered cameras and remote monitoring. Our goal is simple: no family or business should experience what I went through in Kumasi.

Every client we work with is a reminder of that promise.

From security to social impact

As we grew the security business, another reality kept bothering me. When you visit homes and communities across Ghana, you see two things at the same time: vulnerability and potential.

In some communities, children were studying by candlelight or kerosene lamps. The risk of fire was high, and when the lights went out, so did their chance to learn. I knew that if we were serious about “security”, it couldn’t only mean cameras and alarms – it also had to mean safety, dignity and opportunity.

That’s why I launched the CarloVan Foundation.

Through the foundation we provide:

• Solar light kits to students and communities without stable electricity

• Support for flood victims and families affected by disasters, like our recent contribution to Akosombo flood relief

• Donations of food, books and chess sets to schools and people in prison, in partnership with organizations such as Crime Check Foundation

My work with Crime Check has been especially meaningful. Their founder, Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, is one of the few people allowed to film inside Ghanaian prisons. Together we are advocating for reforms and supporting petty offenders who should not be behind bars in the first place.

Building verified opportunities with CV Connect

As CarloVan Group grew, another pattern became clear: many young people in Ghana are talented and educated, but struggle to find trustworthy work.

Fake job adverts, scams and unverified recruiters have made many graduates afraid to even apply. Employers, on the other hand, worry about fake CVs and unreliable hires. Once again, I recognized the same problem that started my journey: a lack of trust and verification.

So we decided to bring our security mindset into the world of employment.

In early 2026, we are preparing to launch CV Connect, which will be Ghana’s first 100% verified job platform. The platform will combine:

• Biometric ID and face verification for both talents and employers

• AI-powered job matching based on skills, experience and trusted data

• Free mentorship opportunities for serious young professionals, including scholarships and career guidance through our school outreach and quiz competitions

Our goal is to give employers confidence in who they hire, and give young people a safe, transparent way to access real jobs – not scams.

A network built on trust

Along this journey, I’ve been fortunate to build relationships with people who share this vision for security, opportunity and reform – from media leader Bola Ray and top YouTuber Wode Maya, to international partners at the Global Wealth Forum, and reform advocates working on prison and justice issues.

But none of these connections matter if they don’t translate into tangible outcomes for ordinary people: a safer home, a light to study under, a first verified job, or a second chance after prison.

That is what CarloVan Group exists to do.

From a robbery in Kumasi to a mission that now spans security technology, social impact and youth employment, my story is proof that even the darkest moments can be turned into solutions for others – if we choose to build from them.