Six individuals have been apprehended in connection with the tragic death of 20-year-old Okada rider Sampson Eka, who was fatally stabbed at a funeral in Ballagonor near Tebu, within the Ga South Municipality of Greater Accra Region.
According to police reports, the suspects attacked the victim with a sharp object following a brief altercation on Saturday evening.
Friends of the victim rushed him to a nearby hospital, from where he was later transferred to Mother and Child Hospital in Kasoa. Despite efforts to save him, Sampson Eka succumbed to his injuries.
Distraught family members have demanded a thorough investigation from the police to ensure justice for the deceased.
“We need more policemen, patrol vehicles, and a police post in Tebu to combat criminal activities,” he said.
The Weija Divisional Police Command has arrested six individuals, including the main suspect, who are currently assisting with the investigation.
The leadership of the Okada Riders Association is dissatisfied with the implementation of the Emissions Levy which mandates motor riders to pay GHC75 annually to the government.
The primary goal of introducing the emissions levy in accordance with Emissions Levy Act, 2023 (Act 1112), is to encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly technology and green energy. This is expected to contribute significantly to improved environmental management, as well as the control of air and water pollution.
But according to Secretary of the Okada Riders Association, Majid Amidu, it is insensitive on the part of the government to impose such a tax and an expensive one at that.
The Association is set to petition the Ministry of Transport next Monday to consider reducing the emissions levy.
“It is too much. People are suffering. You did not give us jobs, you did not do anything for us and yet you want us to pay GH75. We will hold another meeting and write a petition to the government and the whole of Ghana that enough is enough.”
“If they do not reduce the levy, we will go out and demonstrate against this government. By Monday the petition will be ready and we will send it to the Minister,” he added.
Also, motor vehicles, buses, and coaches up to 3000 cubic centimetres are required to pay GH₵150 per annum whereas motor vehicles, buses, and coaches above 3000 cubic centimetres, cargo trucks, and articulated trucks are required to pay GH₵300 per annum.
Michael Tetteh, also known as “Brother” and employed as a factory worker, has been handed a life sentence for a severe assault that led to the tragic demise of Patrick Gyasi, an Okada Rider.
This judgment follows a unanimous guilty verdict delivered by a seven-member jury on the charge of murder against Tetteh.
The incident took place on June 16, 2017, in the vicinity of Oduman, near Amasaman, within the Greater Accra Region, as reported by Graphic.com.gh.
Both the defendant and the victim resided in Oduman, and on that ill-fated day, Gyasi made a stop at a location known as Otumfour Spot in Oduman.
According to the prosecution’s account of the events, at approximately 11:00 PM, the accused, accompanied by an individual identified as Taller, confronted the late Patrick Gyasi.
Tetteh allegedly accused Gyasi, stating, “the other day while I was disciplining my child, you insulted me, and now you are here.”
In response, Gyasi affirmed that he had no disputes or conflicts with Tetteh. Nevertheless, Tetteh made an attempt to strike Gyasi with a wooden log, which happened to belong to a nearby fried yam vendor. Taller, an onlooker, promptly intervened, disarming Tetteh and separating the two individuals.
However, undeterred by the initial intervention, Tetteh returned to his residence and retrieved a bottle, concealing it in his pocket. Upon his return to the scene, and without any apparent provocation or reason, he viciously struck Gyasi on the head and proceeded to stab him in the neck and arm with the broken bottle.
Gyasi suffered severe bleeding and was immediately rushed to the Oduman Health Centre. Later, he was transferred to the Amasaman Government Hospital, but tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Five days after the incident, on June 21, 2017, Tetteh reportedly fled to Asuboi in the Eastern Region, where he was eventually apprehended.
A post-mortem examination conducted on the deceased by Dr. Owusu Afriyie at the Police Hospital in Accra revealed that Gyasi’s cause of death was attributed to haemorrhagic shock and the injuries sustained during the attack.
A 17-year-old Okada rider fights for his life after a suspected marijuana (wee) dispute in a Kasoa Ofaarko suburb, Awutu Senya East municipality.
Cobra, an ex-convict, suspected the rider as an informant and allegedly attacked him with a knife, causing unconsciousness.
The victim received immediate medical attention at Kasoa Poly Clinic, later transferred to Winneba Trauma and Specialist Center.
Oheneba Adamah explained on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5fm that the suspect mistook the rider for an informant due to his association with the Police.
A 24-year-old okada rider has been killed in a robbery attack near Nsawam in the Eastern Region.
The victim, Kwame Mensah, had been supporting his family by working in the Nsawam area after completing senior high school.
The gang hired him for a trip to Kwarfokurom and halfway through the journey, they shot him and stole his motorbike.
The grieving mother of the deceased called for justice, and the former Member of Parliament for Ayensuano appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to increase police patrols in the area to protect Okada riders and residents from such attacks.
Emmanuel Waki, a 21-year-old Okada Rider, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after admitting to robbing a bystander of his cellphone in front of the Police CID Headquarters.
According to reports, the Inspector General of Police and his bodyguards were returning from their regular observing duties on December 19 when the event happened.
Emmanuel Waki, known as Pocket, was given a furious pursuit that resulted in the arrest of Salifu Alhaji, another Okada rider, who in turn helped the police apprehend Waki in Old Fadama.
On December 23, Waki appeared before the Circuit Court and entered a plea of guilty simpliciter (without any further explanation). He was found guilty based on his own admission, and his sentencing was postponed until today, Wednesday, December 4, 2023.
According to Section 296 of the Penal Code, robbery is punishable by up to life in prison, according to the court’s ruling on Wednesday, January 4, which was presided over by His Honor Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah.
The defendant, who had admitted guilt on two counts of conspiracy and robbery, received a 10-year sentence for conspiracy and a 15-year sentence for robbery. He would serve the maximum of 15 years under the concurrent sentence that the court considered appropriate.
Salifu Alhaji, the first defendant and an Okada Rider, 24, was charged with conspiracy but denied it and was placed on detention.
Prosecution’s address
Addressing the court prior to sentencing, Inspector Isaac Babayi, the Prosecutor said the second accused pleaded guilty simpliciter when the charges and the consequences of his plea were explained to him.
He said the plea of the convict was voluntary and the court in sentencing him must take into consideration the “intrusive seriousness” of the offense – robbery and conspiracy.
He said the robbery is a first-degree felony offense and more importantly the circumstances of which the incident happened.
He told the court that per the police records, robbery is on the increase, and the pre-meditation and violent manner the crime was committed required a hefty punishment.
Inspector Babayi said the crime on the innocent bystander took place in front of the CID Headquarters and the accused, knowing about that, threw every caution to the wind and snatched the mobile phone from the innocent bystander.
He prayed the court to hand down a sentence that should deter others who habbour a similar intention to shy away from such crimes.
Mitigation
Gregory Kwadwo Asiedu, defence counsel while making a plea for mitigation said his client is a first-time offender and a lighter punishment would serve the best interest of justice.
Brief facts
IAccording to Starr FM, Inspector Babayi told the court that, on Monday, December 19, last year, at about 20:10 hours, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) with his bodyguards on return from their routine observational duties while on the main road in front of the Police CID Headquarters spotted a motorbike rider riding interchange.
According to the Prosecutor, the rider suddenly diverted from the approved lane that he was supposed to use to the opposite lane facing oncoming vehicles.
He told the court that, upon reaching the pedestrian pavement opposite the CID Headquarters, the suspicious rider robbed the cellular phones of a pedestrian who was waiting for a vehicle and sped off.
The Prosecutor said, the victim attempted to chase the rider but failed to catch up on him. The bodyguards of the IGP who witnessed the crime from a distance quickly pursued the motorbike and in a few minutes, accosted the first accused, Salifu Alhaji.
He said, the first accused who was using the Apsonic motorbike, red colour with registration number M-20-GR6987 whose personality had semblance with the perpetrator they saw committed the crime and handed him over for investigation.
He said, the first accused during investigation denied the offence but mentioned the second accused as the one who robbed the phone because he spotted him on his motorbike moving towards the direction of the robbery scene with similar motorbike as his.
Confession
The prosecutor said, the first accused on December 20, 2022, led police to the residence of the second accused at Old Fadama and pointed him out leading to his arrest for investigation.
During investigation, the second accused admitted that he was the one who robbed the pedestrian of his cellular phone on the pavement about 20:10 hours on December 19, 2022.
He confessed to having sold the mobile phone to one Mohammad at a price of GHc300.00 and they were arraigned whilst investigation continued to apprehend others connected to the crime.
A 23-year-old Okada Rider who was nabbed with a locally manufactured pistol loaded with four rounds of AA cartridges, has been ordered to sign a bond to be of good behavior for one year.
The Accra Circuit Court also seized the gun and ordered that it should be sent to the Police Armoury.
Benwub Kojo, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of firearms and ammunitions without authority.
Prosecution led by Inspector Daniel Danku narrated that the complainants are Police officers from the Accra Regional Headquarters Visibility Team positioned at Kinbu Traffic Light.
Inspector Danku told the Court presided over by Mr Samuel Bight Acquah that Kojo resided at Haatso in Accra.
On September 30, this year, at about 11:20am, the accused person was riding a red Royal 125 model motorbike with registration number M-22GR-2-17 with a small bag hanging around his neck.
Prosecution said on reaching the Kinbu Traffic light, Kojo saw the Police officers on duty, and he exhibited some signs of fear.
The prosecutor said accused was stopped and when searched, one locally manufactured pistol loaded with four rounds of AA cartridges was retrieved.
Kojo was arrested and handed over to the Police Regional Criminal Investigation Department for investigations.
Prosecution said accused person in his caution statement claimed ownership of the gun.
The Hohoe Circuit Court has sentenced, Erica Borke, 44, and unemployed, to two years in jail for stealing a crankshaft and oil pump valued at GH₵3,300.
Borke pleaded guilty with an explanation, but the explanation was not accepted by the court, presided over by Mr Michael Johnson Abbey.
Borke was convicted on his own plea.
Chief Inspector Charles Aziati, the Prosecutor, said the complainant was a businessman, the convict claimed to be a driver by profession and the complainant’s father, was an owner of a fitting shop.
He said on June 11 at about 0545 hours, one Gbetoryedzi who was also a witness in the case was in his blacksmith shop close to the shop of the complainant’s father when he saw the convict moving about in the said shop.
Chief Inspector Aziati said the witness who became suspicious about the presence of the convict, monitored his actions and in the process, he saw the convict pick a crankshaft and oil pump in the shop and put them in a sack he was holding.
He said the convict left the sack with its contents in the shop and went to the roadside and brought in an Okada rider to convey the items in the sack.
Chief Inspector Aziati said the witness got the convict arrested and managed to reach out to the complainant who sought the assistance of police, and the convict was escorted to the police station.
He said the convict admitted the offence during investigations.
