Serial Killer “Cristos” Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for 23 Murders Across Upper West and Savannah Regions
The High Court in Wa has sentenced Shariff Abdulai, popularly known as “Cristos,” to life imprisonment with hard labour after he pleaded guilty to the murders of 23 people in the Upper West and Savannah regions.
In a press release issued by the Public Affairs Unit of the Ghana Police Service in the Upper West Region on March 4, the court handed down the maximum sentence following Abdulai’s admission of guilt. He confessed to killing 16 people in Wa, five in Bole, and one each in Banda Nkwanta and Bamboi.
The 33-year-old suspect was arrested on October 6, 2025, after months of intelligence-led police operations and thorough investigations. He was first brought before the District Magistrate Court for committal proceedings before being transferred to the High Court in Wa for trial.
Represented by counsel, Abdulai pleaded guilty to all counts of murder when he appeared before Justice Osei-Wusu Antwi on March 4. The judge, upon accepting the plea, sentenced him to life imprisonment with hard labour. Abdulai will serve his sentence at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.
The gruesome killings, which spanned multiple communities, had spread fear and prompted intense police action across the two regions. Authorities described the case as one of the most serious serial murder investigations in recent years.
The Regional Police Command praised the collaborative efforts that led to the arrest and conviction, reaffirming its commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting citizens.
“We remain resolute in our determination to maintain a safe and secure environment for all law-abiding Ghanaians,” the statement concluded.
The sentencing brings some measure of closure to families who lost loved ones in the string of killings, though the pain of the tragedies continues to linger in the affected communities. Police have assured the public that investigations into any possible accomplices or related crimes remain active.
