The Bekwai Circuit Court sentenced three men to 20 and 22 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for a robbery that took place near New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region. The court, presided over by His Honour Issac Appiatu, delivered the verdict on September 8, 2026.
Eric Afful, alias Nana Yeboah, 21, a commercial motor rider, was handed 20 years on Count Two, abetment of robbery, while the court discharged him on Count One, conspiracy. Abdul Ganiu, 24, and David Mensah, alias Rasta, 26, both commercial motor riders, each received 15 years on Count One, conspiracy to commit robbery, and 22 years on Count Three, robbery. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Prosecutor G/L/Cpl. Peter Oduro presented evidence that the complainant, Derrick Arthur, a gold buyer at Adansi Nkrankese, was approached by Afful, who claimed he owed Arthur GH¢2,000 to retrieve his seized motorbike. Afful enlisted Ganiu and Mensah to help him rob Arthur. On September 3, 2026, around 8:00 p.m., the trio ambushed Arthur at a cocoa farm along the Akwaaku road, stealing a digital mining scale, melting gas, two pounds of gold, cash and an iPhone 12 mini.
After the robbery, the men shared GH¢6,000 from Arthur’s backpack and fled. Police later arrested Mensah at Apagya, who confessed and led officers to Afful at Obonsu and Ganiu at Asonkore. Searches recovered GH¢2,000 from Afful, GH¢2,000 from Ganiu, the iPhone 12 mini and GH¢2,705 from Mensah, and the backpack, though the gold remained missing.
The court’s decision underscores the judiciary’s stance on robbery involving commercial motor riders and the serious penalties for such crimes.
