High court hands life sentence to Richard Appiah over Abesim murders

The High Court in Accra has sentenced Richard Appiah, a footballer and draughtsman, to life imprisonment after a jury unanimously found him guilty of murdering two boys in Abesim in 2021, a case that shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation.

Appiah, 28 at the time of the killings, was arrested in August 2021 after police discovered the bodies of 12‑year‑old Louis Agyemang and 15‑year‑old Stephen Sarpong in his home in Abesim, near Sunyani. Investigators also found human body parts stored in a refrigerator, a gruesome detail that intensified public outrage.

The victims were identified as Appiah’s stepbrother and the son of a family friend. The discovery triggered calls for stronger community safety measures and raised questions about how such crimes could go undetected.

Appiah’s trial began in 2022 but faced delays due to procedural issues, including the absence of jurors. Despite these setbacks, prosecutors presented evidence linking him directly to the killings.

After deliberations, a seven‑member jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on two counts of murder. Presiding judge Justice Ruby Aryeetey imposed a life sentence, underscoring the severity of the crimes and the need for justice.

Reports during Appiah’s detention described unusual behaviour, including demands for specific foods, which led police to request psychiatric evaluations. Media coverage at the time portrayed him variously as a footballer, sports commentator, and architect, though the Ghana Institute of Architects later clarified he was not a registered member.

The sentencing brings closure to a case that highlighted vulnerabilities in community safety and underscored the importance of robust investigative and judicial processes. For many in Abesim and across Ghana, the verdict represents accountability for a crime that left lasting scars on families and the wider public.