Four jailed over violent shrine robbery in Ashanti Region: Ringleader gets 25 years

By Seth Yeboah, DeStoryNews May 2, 2026

NSUTA, ASHANTI REGION — A circuit court judge at Nsuta has sentenced members of a robbery gang to prison after they were found guilty of attacking two fetish priestesses in separate operations in the Ashanti Region. His Lordship Ganga of the Nsuta Circuit Court handed the ringleader, Kofi Adu, also known as “K2”, 25 years imprisonment on each of two robbery cases. Three accomplices received 20-year sentences in both cases. Dadiase Robbery:

GHS65,000 Target

The Investigator, Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Opoku Frimpong of the Ashanti North Regional Police Command, said the case began when Nana Akosua, a 70-year-old priestess from Dadiase near Kumawu, filed a complaint that she had been robbed. According to police, one of the accused, Obeng Patrick, had approached the priestess weeks earlier seeking protection, claiming he possessed gold. He stayed with her for two weeks after telling her he feared for his life because of the gold. During his stay, Patrick overheard the priestess speaking on the phone with a woman in Canada about GHS65,000. He later left under the pretense of going to bring the gold. On December 31, 2025, a masked man identified as Kofi Adu appeared at the shrine demanding the money. He was soon joined by five other masked men who threatened to kill the priestess if she did not hand over the cash. Nana Akosua and other visitors at the shrine were assaulted and dragged to the shrine, where she was forced to show them the money. She later identified Patrick as the man who had previously stayed with her.

Police Operation and Arrests

The National Operations Department of the Ghana Police Service initially stormed Dadiase but did not find the suspects. Intelligence later led them to Ejisu Asotwe. The ringleader, Kofi Adu, was tracked through his mobile number and arrested at Ejisu Onwe. A search was conducted at his residence. During interrogation, he named members of his gang, leading to further arrests at Donaso, Ejisu, Nkwakwanua, and Asotwe. The suspects were arraigned before the Nsuta Circuit Court on April 27, 2026, on two counts: conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery.

Court Proceedings

In court, Kofi Adu admitted guilt but indicated he had more to say. Kofi Adu initially claimed he had only gone to collect his money when the incident occurred. However, under cross-examination by the prosecutor, Patrick revealed that Kofi Adu had masterminded the plan, sending him to the priestess first to survey the area ahead of the robbery. Kofi Adu subsequently conceded and pleaded guilty. His Lordship Ganga sentenced Kofi Adu to 25 years imprisonment. Patrick, Francis Obeng, and Karim Nuredeen each received 20 years.

Second Case: Bonwire Bamang Attack

In a separate incident on December 28, 2025, Kofi Adu and his gang — Obeng Patrick, Kofi Adjei, Edem Ayigbe, and Okra — robbed another fetish priestess at Bonwire Bamang of GHS8,600. During the operation, the gang seized the victim’s phone and demanded her Mobile Money PIN to access her wallet balance. When she refused, she was beaten until she unlocked her MoMo account, from which the suspects transferred GHS1,200. For this case, Kofi Adu was again sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. Patrick, Francis Obeng, and Kofi Adjei were handed 20 years each.

Police say Edem Ayigbe and Okra, who were involved in the Bonwire Bamang robbery, have not yet been arrested. A manhunt is underway for the two suspects.

Detective Chief Inspector Frimpong commended the collaboration between the National Operations Department and regional police, assuring the public that all outstanding suspects will be arrested to face the law.