A 30-year-old man, Dominic Ofori, alias Fanta, has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Bekwai Circuit Court for his role in a violent armed robbery at a mining site in Manso Akwasiso in March 2022.
Ofori, who had been on the run for nearly four years, was arrested on February 16, 2026. He appeared before the court and pleaded guilty to the charge of robbery contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). The court, presided over by the circuit judge, convicted him accordingly and imposed the 25-year sentence with hard labour.
The robbery took place on March 20, 2022, when the Manso Adubia District Police received credible intelligence that a group of armed men from Manso Abodom were planning to attack a mining site at Manso Akwasiso to rob the owner of gold concentrate.
Acting swiftly, the police mounted a coordinated operation and laid an ambush at the target location. At about 5:30 p.m. that day, four armed suspects arrived and opened indiscriminate fire on the miners before attempting to seize the gold concentrate.
The police team intervened immediately, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire. Three of the robbers Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif, and Gideon Takyi sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at St. Martin’s Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum. Dominic Ofori managed to escape during the shootout and remained at large until his recent arrest.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command, in a statement following the conviction, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to combating violent crime and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice.
The successful arrest and prosecution of Ofori have been welcomed by mining communities in the area, who have long expressed concerns over armed robberies targeting small-scale mining operations. Authorities continue to urge the public to provide timely information on criminal activities to help maintain peace and security in the region.
