The Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced a 30-year-old man to 25 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for his involvement in a 2022 armed robbery at a mining site in Manso Akwasiso in the Ashanti South Region.
The convict, Dominic Ofori, popularly known as Fanta, was arrested on February 16, 2026, after evading capture for nearly four years. He pleaded guilty to robbery, contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and was convicted on his own plea.
The 2022 Robbery
The incident dates back to March 20, 2022, when the Manso Adubia District Police received intelligence that a group of armed men from Manso Abodom were planning to attack a mining site at Manso Akwasiso and rob the owner of gold concentrate.
Acting on the tip-off, police mounted a coordinated operation and laid an ambush at the site.
At about 5:30pm, four armed men reportedly stormed the mining area, fired indiscriminately and made away with gold concentrate belonging to the miners.
Officers who were on surveillance engaged the suspects, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Three of the suspects — Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif and Gideon Takyi — sustained gunshot wounds during the shootout and were later pronounced dead on arrival at the St Martins Catholic Hospital.
Years on the Run
Dominic Ofori managed to escape at the time and remained on the run until his arrest earlier this year. Following his arraignment before the Bekwai Circuit Court, he admitted to the offence and was handed a 25-year custodial sentence with hard labour.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has reiterated its commitment to tackling violent crime in mining communities and ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice.
The sentencing comes amid persistent concerns over armed robberies and violent attacks linked to mining activities in parts of the Ashanti Region — a security challenge authorities say they are determined to address decisively.
