Two men sentenced to 20 years in prison each for robbing gold ore worth GH¢165,000 were self-styled security guards for the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Phyllis Naa Koryoo Akunor, according to police investigations.
The two convicts, Justice Kpakpo Mingle, alias Nii, 31, a photographer, and Justice Mensah, alias Gaza, 29, a vulcaniser, were found to have used black and brown tactical uniforms issued to them as security guards to carry out the robbery.
Both men, who reside in Kasoa, were convicted by the Bekwai Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery.
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They were sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently.
A third alleged accomplice, Festus Mensah, alias Gucci, an excavator operator who worked with the complainants, remains at large.
According to the facts presented in court by Detective Sergeant Arthur Lennox, the complainant, George Osei Tutu, a miner based at Adansi Dompoase, was transporting gold ore from a mining site at Denkyei towards Fomena on 22 May 2026.
He was travelling in a pickup vehicle with registration number GW 3813-25, accompanied by Clinton Amankwa and Simon Ofori Amoah, when they were stopped and attacked at gunpoint along the Denkyei-Fomena road.
The assailants, dressed in black and brown tactical military or police-style uniforms, robbed them of gold ore valued at GH¢165,000.
Police who visited the scene retrieved the first convict’s Ghana Card, voter identification card, driving licence and a complimentary card bearing the name Nii Akpaloo Concepts and contact numbers.
On 9 June 2026, a team of Ashanti South Police Intelligence Directorate personnel travelled to Kasoa and surrounding communities following intelligence.
Mingle was arrested at Kasoa Nyanyano Monaco on 10 June, and he led police to the arrest of Mensah at Kasoa Akweley Junction.
During investigations, the two men separately confessed to the robbery and identified Festus Mensah as the alleged mastermind who recruited them from Kasoa.
The convicts told investigators that they sold the stolen gold to a dealer at Adabraka in Accra for GH¢151,000.
Mensah said he received GH¢60,000 as his share, gave GH¢20,000 to his wife, Sakinatu, to deposit into her bank account, and used the remainder to settle debts and meet expenses for the funeral rites of his late mother.
Mingle also said he received GH¢60,000, using GH¢18,000 to purchase an Apsonic Jungle motorbike and the rest for rent and other expenses.
Police retrieved the brown tactical uniform, black tactical trousers, boots and motorbike, which were kept in custody.
Investigations are continuing to recover the pistol allegedly used in the robbery and arrest the third suspect.
AsaaseRadio