A Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced a 30-year-old man to 25 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for his role in a 2022 armed robbery at a mining site in Manso Akwasiso in the Ashanti South Region.

The convict, Dominic Ofori, popularly known as Fanta, was arrested on February 16, 2026, after evading capture for nearly four years.

According to a police press release dated March 2, 2026, Ofori pleaded guilty to robbery and was subsequently handed a 25-year custodial sentence.

“He pleaded guilty before the Bekwai Circuit Court to robbery, contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and was accordingly sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment with hard labour,” the statement said.

Police disclosed that intelligence gathered on March 20, 2022, indicated that a group of armed men from Manso Abodom were planning to attack a mining site at Manso Akwasiso to steal gold concentrate.

Officers from the Manso Adubia District Police mounted an operation and laid an ambush at the site.

At about 5:30 p.m., four armed men reportedly arrived, opened fire, and made away with gold concentrate belonging to the miners. A gun battle broke out when the police surveillance team engaged the suspects at the scene.

Three of the suspects — Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif, and Gideon Takyi — sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange and were pronounced dead on arrival at St. Martins Catholic Hospital.

Ofori managed to escape but was later tracked down, arrested, and put before the court.

The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has reaffirmed its commitment to combating violent crime and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice.

Read the full statement below