Two Jailed 20 Years Each Over GH¢165,000 Gold Robbery

Two men have been jailed 20 years each by the Bekwai Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region for robbing a miner of gold ore valued at GH¢165,000 at gunpoint.

The convicts, Justice Kpakpo Mingle, alias Nii, 31, a photographer, and Justice Mensah, alias Gaza, 29, a vulcaniser, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery after a full trial.

The court, presided over by His Honour Isaac Apietu, sentenced each of them to 20 years’ imprisonment on each of the two counts. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Their alleged accomplice, Festus Mensah, alias Gucci, is currently at large.

The prosecution, led by ASP Lloyd Baidoo, told the court that the robbery occurred on May 22, 2026, at Denkyei-Fomena in the Ashanti Region.

The complainant, George Osei Tutu, a minor residing at Adansi Dompoase, was travelling in a pickup vehicle with registration number GW 3813-25, alongside two others, Clinton Amankwa and Simon Ofori Amoah, from a mining site at Denkyei towards Fomena when the incident occurred.

According to the prosecution, the convicts and their accomplice, dressed in black and brown tactical military or police-style uniforms, stopped the vehicle and wielded a pistol to overpower the occupants.

They subsequently seized the complainant’s gold ore, valued at GH¢165,000, and fled the scene.

Arrest

Police investigations led to the retrieval of identification documents belonging to the first convict at the scene, including his Ghana Card, Voter ID card, driver’s licence and a complimentary card bearing the name Nii Akpaloo Concepts.

Following intelligence gathering, a team of Ashanti South Police Intelligence Directorate personnel travelled to Kasoa and its environs to track down the suspects.

On June 10, 2026, the first convict was arrested at Kasoa Nyanyano Monaco. He subsequently led the police to arrest the second convict at Kasoa Akweley Junction.

The prosecution said the two men separately confessed to their involvement in the robbery during investigations and implicated Festus Mensah, whom they identified as the alleged mastermind.

The court heard that Festus, an excavator operator who worked with the complainant’s group, allegedly recruited the two men from Kasoa to execute the operation.

Shares

The second convict reportedly told investigators that he received GH¢60,000 as his share of the proceeds.

He allegedly gave GH¢20,000 to his wife, Sakinatu, to deposit into her bank account, while using the remainder to settle debts and make payments towards his late mother’s funeral arrangements.

The first convict also reportedly received GH¢60,000 and used GH¢18,000 to purchase an Apsonic jungle motorbike. He spent the remainder on rent and other expenses, according to the prosecution.

The court further heard that the stolen gold was sold to a gold dealer at Adabraka in Accra for GH¢151,000.

Recoveries

During investigations, the convicts led police officers to the mining site at Fomena and identified the location where they had stopped the victims and taken the gold ore.

They also reportedly guided investigators to a guest house at Adansi Asokwa where they had lodged before and after the robbery.

Police retrieved tactical clothing and boots linked to the robbery and recovered the Apsonic motorbike allegedly purchased with part of the proceeds.

Further investigations revealed that the convicts had reportedly worked as security guards for the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Hon. Naa Koryor, and had been issued with tactical uniforms for their duties.

The prosecution alleged that the men used the same uniforms to carry out the robbery.

Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to retrieve the pistol allegedly used in the operation and arrest Festus Mensah, who remains at large.