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Two retired soldiers and nine others have been sentenced to a total of 252 years in hard labor by the Tarkwa Circuit Court for robbing a gold-buying company at Wassa Akropong in the Western Region.
Emmanuel Tetteh, alias ‘Rocky Study,’ a retired soldier now working as a private security officer, and his unemployed colleague Samuel Agbadoku, along with Isaac Adjei, another private security officer, Frank Afavi, alias ‘Hero,’ a fetish priest, Yaw Adzevi, a kente weaver, and Anthony Ayivie Kwame Senyo, alias ‘Shoto,’ a driver, were each sentenced to 17 years.
The other convicts, Pascal Korku Atatsitsey, alias ‘Mezaya,’ and Dodzi Awali, both fetish priests, Dickson Kumedzro, alias ‘Jaggar,’ a farmer, and Ruben Kportufe, alias ‘Offei,’ a self-proclaimed businessman, were each sentenced to 25 years. Mohammed Buzu, alias ‘Meme,’ an ex-convict, received a 50-year sentence. They were all charged with conspiracy and robbery, offenses they denied. The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi, urged the court to impose severe penalties to deter future crimes, dismissing the convicts’ pleas for leniency.
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The incident occurred in September 2018, when Adjei contacted Tetteh, informing him about the refined gold at AU Resources Ghana Limited and seeking accomplices for the robbery. Tetteh involved Agbadoku, who recruited others including fetish priests and various individuals from different regions. On October 1, 2018, Agbadoku led the group to Wassa Akropong, where they lodged in a hotel in preparation for the robbery. After several failed attempts due to lack of weapons, they successfully executed the robbery on October 6, 2018, stealing 7.5 kilograms of refined gold valued at GH¢1,543,500, six mobile phones, and GH¢250,000 in cash.
The robbers were captured by a Closed-circuit television camera installed at the company’s premises. They were later apprehended after a series of investigations and confessions, although some managed to escape initially. The court has declared Peter Adoku, who remains at large, as wanted. During the investigation, Atatsitsey, Kumedzro, Adzevi, and Senyo admitted their involvement, leading to the arrest of the other accomplices. Despite their claims, Buzu insisted that the stolen items were taken by Adoku, who fled to Benin. The court’s judgment aims to serve as a stern warning and deterrent to others contemplating similar crimes.
