An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a 32-year-old former driver, Emmanuel Akpatsa, to 15 years in prison after finding him guilty of unlawfully entering his former employer’s residence and attempting to rob a motorbike at knifepoint.
Akpatsa, a native of the Volta Region, had pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawful entry and attempt to commit robbery. However, after a trial during which the prosecution called four witnesses, the court convicted him on both counts.
The prosecution, led by Inspector Priscilla Avorgah, told the court that Akpatsa targeted the residence of his former employer, Mr Callistus Mahama, at Okpoi Gonno, off the Spintex Road, in the early hours of May 24, 2025.
According to the prosecution, Akpatsa scaled the wall of the residence after allegedly hiding in an abandoned building nearby to avoid detection by a CCTV camera.
Upon entering the compound, he allegedly pulled out a kitchen knife and confronted Gabriel Djanfosu, 29, a houseboy and driver at the residence, demanding that he hand over a Sonlink motorbike with registration number M-25-GR 5034.
Djanfosu, sensing that he was in danger, allegedly pretended to leave the area to urinate. He then retrieved a cutlass and raised an alarm, prompting a security guard and a police officer to respond.
The prosecution said Akpatsa was subsequently overpowered and arrested before being handed over to the police at Manet. The kitchen knife allegedly used during the incident was also retrieved.
Investigations, according to the prosecution, revealed that Akpatsa had previously worked as a driver for Mr Mahama but left the job on January 22, 2025, after receiving GH¢10,000 in compensation.
The court further heard that Akpatsa returned to Accra from Kpando, his hometown, on the night of May 23, 2025. He allegedly went to a drinking spot at Martey-Tsuru, where he obtained the kitchen knife from a man identified as Richard Ampiah.
The prosecution said Akpatsa later proceeded to Oasis Estate, where Mr Mahama’s residence was located, and allegedly executed his plan to gain access to the property.
During police investigations, Akpatsa allegedly admitted the offence in his statement to the police.
Following the trial, the court found him guilty and sentenced him to 15 years’ imprisonment.
