The Ghana Police Service has secured the sentence of a herbalist based at Enyunmam, in the Central Region, as well as a driver of the Best 5 Company for masterminding, robbery and shooting one of its personnel.
Samuel Quansah, the herbalist and Stephen Acheampong, driver, were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on each count of conspiracy to commit crime and robbery.
They were sentenced on Wednesday, this week, by an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Isaac Addo, after pleading guilty.
The court was also told by prosecuting officer, Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, that the police are also on a manhunt for one of the convicts’ accomplices, Emmanuel Etsiwa, also known as Champana.
Samuel, Stephen and Emmanuel acted together to rob the Best 5 Company of GH¢303,035.00 while the money was being transported at Tesano in Accra.
The court was also informed that the policeman, Chief Inspector Jonathan Amoadu Prince, was shot at his abdomen by Samuel Quansah and his father, Kwesi Quansah, while resisting arrest.
Various weapons and ammunition were retrieved from them.
Stephen Acheampong, the driver, was also the architect of the robbery which took place in a broad daylight.
Details of the case
C/Ins Lawer narrated to the court that the complainants, Ali Mousa Dagher and Dominic Essel are sales representative and driver of the Best 5 Company Limited respectively. He added that Samuel Quansah and Emmanuel Etsiwa, also known as Champana (at large), are residents of Enyanmaim in the Central Region whilst Stephen Acheampong lives in Accra.
The prosecutor said on August 15, 2023 the complainants, in the company of Stephen Acheampong, the convict, went to the police station at about 6:40pm that they had been robbed.
Per their statement, the robbery took place at about 3:34pm while returning from Ashaiman to the company office in their vehicle.
According to them, two armed robbers stopped the vehicle and robbed them of their money in a total sum of GH¢303,035.00 at gun point at Tesano.
The police, after carefully listening to their complaints, arrested Stephen for investigation.
During police preliminary investigations, Stephen Acheampong confessed his involvement in the robbery and mentioned Samuel Quansah and Emmanuel Etsiwa as his accomplices, but they live at Mankessim Enyanmaim in the central region.
On August 18, 2023 a police team of investigators were dispatched from the Accra Regional Police Intelligence Department and Mankessim District Police Command to Enyanmaim Township to trace and apprehend Stephen’s accomplices from their hideouts.
However, on reaching the town, Samuel Quansah had a hint of the police presence in the area and ran to a different place within the town to hide.
The police team, on the next day, at about 3:10am whilst still combing the area, managed to track him to his father’s newly built house located about three miles away from where he lives.
Samuel, on seeing the police, quickly ran to hide himself in his father’s room.
Chief Inspector Jonathan Amoadu Prince, who was part of the police team, shouted and introduced himself to the convict’s father as a peace officer.
Unfortunately, when the officer approached him at his doorway to explain why the team was there, the latter ran into the room and picked up a single barrel gun and shot the Chief Inspector in the abdomen.
Kwesi Quansah went back to his room to hide and together with his son fired a number of gun shots at the police through the window.
The intensity of the attack compelled the police to tactically beat a retreat, but later managed to overpower and arrest them from the room.
A spot search conducted in the room led to the retrieval of one single barrel gun, 11 AAA, spent cartridges, eight live AAA cartridges, one locally manufactured pistol, coumo bag containing part of the money robbed, totalling GHC195,191.00.
The team extended the search to Samuel’s hideout in uncompleted building and retrieved one more locally manufactured pistol under his bed.
The victim, C/Ins Jonathan Amoadu Prince sustained gunshot injuries and was rushed to Mercy Women Hospital at Mankessim for treatment, but was later referred to the Cape Coast Government Hospital for further treatment.
The court was told that the victim is currently in a critical health condition, receiving treatment on admission at the hospital.
During investigations, Samuel Quansah admitted to the offense and stated that it was Stephen Acheampong, a worker at the Best 5 Company, who masterminded the robbery.
Similarly, investigation reveals that Samuel Quansah does not have any permit to possess or use the exhibit pistol.
Samuel’s father, Kwesi Quansah, has been put before the District court for committal processes.
Meanwhile, efforts are being made to trace and apprehend the third accused who is on the run.
