A 52-year-old steel bender from Community 14 Annex in Lashibi, Accra, has been sentenced to six months in prison after launching a violent machete attack on a fellow resident over a suspected romantic rivalry.
The convict, Kojo Senagbe, changed his initial plea from not guilty to guilty after spending time on remand. He admitted to attacking Oliver Zinto, a carpenter, whom he accused of trying to “take over” his girlfriend.
Presiding Judge Mr. Kwabena Kodua Obiri Yeboah handed Senagbe a GHS 7,200 fine and ordered him to pay GHS 5,000 in compensation to the victim. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six-month custodial sentence.
According to Chief Inspector Belinda Asante, the incident occurred on the night of April 10, 2025, when Zinto was on his way home. Senagbe ambushed him on a footpath and, without provocation, attacked him with a machete, causing deep wounds to his scalp, ear, arm, and back.
Despite the vicious assault, Zinto managed to fight back, wresting the machete from his attacker before bystanders rushed in to help. The injured man received first aid at the scene and later sought further medical treatment on a police referral.
Senagbe was apprehended two days later and admitted in his caution statement that jealousy had driven him to commit the act. “He has taken over my girlfriend,” he confessed.
Police have since retrieved the weapon used in the assault.
The case has raised concerns over rising cases of personal disputes escalating into violence, with many urging for stronger public education on conflict resolution and mental health support.
