Bekwai Circuit Court hands 25-Year sentence to mining site robber

The Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced a 30-year-old man to 25 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for his role in a violent armed robbery at a mining site in the Ashanti South Region. The convict, Dominic Ofori, also known as Fanta, was captured earlier this year after evading arrest for nearly four years.

Ofori pleaded guilty to robbery, contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and was convicted on his own plea. His sentencing brings closure to a case that began on March 20, 2022, when armed men stormed a mining site at Manso Akwasiso.

Police intelligence had tipped off the Manso Adubia District Command about a planned assault by a group of armed men from Manso Abodom. Acting swiftly, officers mounted surveillance and laid an ambush at the site.

At about 5:30 p.m., four armed men attacked, firing indiscriminately before making away with gold concentrate belonging to the miners. A gun battle ensued between the suspects and police. Three of the attackers, Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif, and Gideon Takyi, sustained gunshot wounds and were later pronounced dead at St. Martins Catholic Hospital in Agroyesum. Ofori, however, managed to escape and remained at large until his arrest on February 16, 2026.

The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has assured the public of its determination to combat violent crime in mining communities. Authorities emphasized that the sentencing sends a strong signal to criminal networks operating around mining concessions.

The Command noted that armed robberies linked to mining activities remain a pressing challenge in parts of the Ashanti Region, but pledged to intensify operations to safeguard lives and property.

Mining communities across Ghana have long grappled with violent attacks, often tied to disputes over gold and other resources. The conviction of Ofori highlights both the risks faced by miners and the resolve of law enforcement to bring offenders to justice. For residents of Manso Akwasiso, the ruling is a reminder that while crime may disrupt livelihoods, accountability can eventually catch up with perpetrators, even years later.