Five years after a violent home invasion led to the killing of Assembly member of Sogakope Mawutor Adzahli, a High court in Ho on Tuesday sentenced the ringleader to life in prison and handed down lengthy sentences to two accomplices, closing a case that gripped the Volta Region with its brutality.
Richard Adikyere, a 35-year-old mason identified as the mastermind behind the deadly 2020 robbery in Sogakope, was convicted of murder, robbery, and illegal possession of firearms by a High Court in Ho. Presiding judge Justice Daniel Ekow Mensah imposed a life sentence, citing the “heinous and callous nature” of the crimes.
Two co-defendants, Emmanuel Hedzro and Stephen Adzibolo, were each sentenced to 47 years in prison for their roles in the armed robbery. Both men had pleaded not guilty but were convicted after the court found the prosecution’s evidence overwhelming.
The incident occurred in the early hours of March 1, 2020, when a gang of armed men broke into the residence of Adzahli, an assembly member and businessman, using cement blocks to gain access. According to prosecutors, Adikyere fired three close-range shots that killed the victim instantly. The group stole an undisclosed but reportedly significant amount of cash before fleeing the scene.
Senior State Attorney Andrews Dodzi Adugu told the court that Hedzro, described as unemployed at the time, had initially targeted Adzahli, believing him to be a wealthy merchant. Hedzro enlisted Adikyere and encouraged him to form a gang. The firearms used—one of which was a pump-action gun stolen in a previous robbery—were traced to Adikyere.
Following the attack, police arrested the suspects at multiple locations, including Ashaiman, a town near the capital, Accra. Authorities revealed that Hedzro used his portion of the stolen funds to purchase a motorcycle worth GH¢4,800 (roughly $400).
Adikyere confessed to pulling the trigger during police interrogation, prosecutors said.
Four additional accomplices—Obed Ayornu, Michael Sam, and twin brothers Samuel and Christian Zotorvi—previously entered guilty pleas under a deal with the prosecution and were each sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The trial’s conclusion marks a milestone in a case that drew national attention for its shocking violence and the subsequent coordinated arrests. As the convicted men were led from the courtroom in handcuffs, Adikyere attempted to lunge at photojournalists capturing the moment.
The court said the sentencing was intended not only to deliver justice for Adzahli’s family but also to send a clear message about the consequences of violent crime.
Source:TheDotNews