Obuasi Circuit Court jails farmer 8years over violent mining site attack at Obuasi

The Obuasi Circuit Court has sentenced a 34-year-old farmer, Afrifa Adu Kofi, to 96 months' imprisonment with hard labour for causing harm to three persons during a violent attack at Adansi Odumasi near Obuasi.

He was also handed 36 months' imprisonment for unlawful possession of a pump-action gun. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

Police prosecution told the court that on May 31, 2026 at about 11:30am, Afrifa Adu Kofi and others at large stormed a mining site at Adansi Odumasi armed with cutlasses, sticks and a firearm.

The court heard that the accused and his accomplices attacked workers Mohammed Abdulai, Halidu Seidu, Nasaratu Fuseini and Stephen Otoo, leaving them with various injuries. The victims were rushed to the AngloGold Ashanti Hospital for treatment, while Halidu Seidu was later referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for further care.

Afrifa Adu Kofi faced five charges, comprising four counts of causing harm contrary to Section 69 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960, Act 29/60, and one count of possession of arms without a licence contrary to Section 11a and 26 1a of NRCD 9 1972.

He pleaded guilty and was convicted on three counts involving Mohammed Abdulai, Halidu Seidu and Nasaratu Fuseini. The charge relating to Stephen Otoo was dismissed, returning a not guilty verdict. He was also found guilty on the firearms charge.

In his caution statement, Afrifa Adu Kofi admitted to attacking the victims with a cutlass and shooting Mohammed Abdulai with a pump-action gun. He also failed to produce documentation for the weapon when questioned by police.

Presiding judge Mr Issac Appiatu sentenced him to 96 months imprisonment on each of the causing harm counts and 36 months for the illegal firearm offence, with all sentences to run concurrently.

Police say efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects who are currently on the run as investigations continue.