A High Court sitting in Kumasi has sentenced two individuals to a total of 40 years in prison following their involvement in multiple armed robberies within the Ashanti Region. The convicts were found guilty of targeting mobile money vendors in various suburbs of Kumasi as detailed in a Citi Newsroom report. Each individual received a 20 year sentence to be served at the Amanfrom Prison according to local judicial records.
The prosecution presented evidence showing the convicts used weapons to intimidate and rob agents of their daily earnings and electronic devices. A GhanaWeb report indicates that the police tracked the suspects through technical surveillance and community intelligence after a string of attacks in early 2024. The court presided over by a High Court judge noted the rising cases of attacks on small scale financial service providers during the sentencing phase.
Official statements from the Ashanti Regional Police Command confirmed that the suspects were part of a larger syndicate specialized in monitoring the movement of mobile money operators. The police recovered several mobile phones and an undisclosed amount of cash during the arrest of the two men as stated in a Daily Guide Network report. The court dismissed the pleas for leniency after the prosecution emphasized the trauma inflicted on the victims through violent means.
The sentencing aims to serve as a deterrent to others involved in similar criminal activities across the region. A report by Graphic Online notes that mobile money agents have recently called for increased police presence in commercial hubs due to frequent security threats. The convicts have been transported to the correctional facility to begin their terms while authorities continue to search for other accomplices mentioned during the trial according to police sources.