Five years after the brutal murder of Sogakope Assembly Member Mawuli Adzahli, justice has finally been served. The High Court in Ho has handed a life sentence to the mastermind behind the crime, 37-year-old mason Richard Adikyere, for his role in the violent robbery that claimed Adzahli’s life.
Two of Adikyere’s accomplices, Emmanuel Hedzro and Stephen Adzibolo, were also found guilty of robbery and have each been sentenced to 47 years in prison.
Although all three pleaded not guilty to the charges — including robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and murder — the court, presided over by Justice Daniel Ekow Mensah, found the evidence against them overwhelming.
Four other members of the gang — Obed Ayornu, Michael Sam, Samuel Kofi Zotorvi, and his twin brother Christian Zotorvi — had earlier entered plea deals, admitting their involvement. Each was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment at a previous hearing.
According to the prosecution, the incident was carefully planned. In early 2020, Hedzro tipped off Adikyere about a supposed wealthy merchant in Sogakope, later identified as Assembly Member Mawuli Adzahli. He urged Adikyere to form a gang for the robbery and personally showed him the victim’s house.
On March 1, 2020, around 1:30 a.m., Adikyere, Adzibolo, Ayornu, and Sam executed the attack. Using cement blocks to break into Adzahli’s home, they were armed with a pump-action shotgun and two pistols, one of which had been previously stolen during another robbery.
During the operation, Adikyere shot Adzahli three times, killing him instantly. The gang made away with a large sum of money from the residence. A post-mortem at the Sogakope District Hospital confirmed the cause of death as close-range gunshot wounds to the head and chest.
Police later arrested the suspects at various locations, including Ashaiman. Hedzro was found to have used his share of the stolen money to purchase a motorbike worth GH¢4,800. During interrogation, Adikyere confessed to being the one who pulled the trigger with the pump-action gun.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Mensah described the crime as "heinous and callous," stressing the loss of a valuable community leader. He said the court had carefully weighed the solid evidence presented by the prosecution before delivering its verdict.
In a final show of aggression, Adikyere — handcuffed to Hedzro — attempted to lunge at journalists trying to photograph him as they were being escorted out of the courtroom.
Trump says US attack 'obliterated' Iran nuclear sites
‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ initiative takes off
Ketu South: Man allegedly sets brother's house ablaze at Kugbagbokope
Current NPP executives must go – Arthur Kennedy
Renal patients appeals to gov't to absorb EPO, iron costs
Sand mining in Adidome disrupts water treatment — GWL
Suspect arrested for burglary, theft in Kasoa Nyayano
Customs cautions against bringing vehicles without manifest to Ghana
Two dead, three injured after building collapses in Cape Coast
Galamsey: ‘Mahama is not a listening President as some mistake him to be’ — Dr. ...
