The Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced three men to 20 years imprisonment each for their roles in an armed robbery attack at Bene-ne-Bene near Jacobu in the Ashanti Region.

The convicts — Peter Boadi, also known as Kwao Ziggy, Daniel Kwaku Owusu, and Eric Kwaku Danso — were convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery, contrary to Sections 23(1) and 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

According to a report from the Ashanti South Police Intelligence Directorate (PID), the robbery occurred on April 29, 2024, around 11:00 p.m., when two Chinese nationals and two Ghanaians, identified as Joseph Eghan (39) and Joseph Boadu (29), were attacked by four armed men.

The victims were returning from the Bene-ne-Bene Forest near Jacobu after loading excavators for transport to Anwiankwanta.

The robbers reportedly seized two iPhones and GHS 7,000 in cash and forced one of the Chinese victims to transfer GHS 30,000 via mobile money to an MTN number (0541038357) registered in the name of Esther Opoku.

Police investigations led to the arrest of Esther Opoku on June 15, 2024, at Obuasi.

During interrogation, she named Boadi, Owusu, and Danso as the masterminds of the robbery.

She confessed to receiving the mobile money transfer, withdrawing the funds, and handing them over to the trio in exchange for GHS 1,000 as her share.

Subsequent police operations resulted in the arrest of Eric Kwaku Danso at Fiankoma and Daniel Kwaku Owusu at Patrensa near Konongo on June 19, 2024.

Both suspects admitted their involvement during interrogation.

Later, on September 30, 2024, police arrested Peter Boadi (Kwao Ziggy) in connection with another case.

A search conducted at his residence at Obuasi Bogobiri uncovered a foreign Bruna pistol loaded with a cartridge and three rounds of ammunition, along with a locally manufactured pistol hidden in a plastic container.

All three suspects were subsequently charged and arraigned before the Bekwai Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Mr. Appiatu.

After a full trial, the court found them guilty and sentenced each to 20 years imprisonment on October 27, 2025.

The convicts have since been transferred to the Kumasi Central Prison to serve their sentences.