The Tarkwa Circuit Court has sentenced a 32-year-old electrician, Mohammed Ibrahim, to four years’ imprisonment for burglary and stealing gold concentrate valued at GH¢100,000 and cash of GH¢20,000. Ibrahim, also known as Ahmed, and his accomplice, Karikari, also known as KK, who is at large, broke into a licensed gold buyer’s shop at Wassa Akropong in the Western Region on May 20, 2026, at about 0000 hours. The court, presided over by Ms Victoria Vera Akonu, convicted Ibrahim on his plea and sentenced him accordingly.
Ibrahim and Karikari were jointly charged with conspiracy to commit crime, to wit stealing, unlawful entry and causing unlawful damage. Ibrahim was additionally charged with possession of an instrument intended or adapted for unlawful entry and stealing. He pleaded guilty to all the charges except the charge of possession of an instrument intended or adapted for unlawful entry. Following the sentence, the prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samuel Ahiabor, withdrew the charge of possession of an instrument intended or adapted for unlawful entry.
The complainant, Kingdom Mantey, was the manager of Kingdom Gold Shop at Wassa Akropong and lived in the vicinity of the shop. On May 20, 2026, Mantey went to the shop in the morning and discovered that one side of the building had been broken into. Upon entering the shop, he found that an unspecified quantity of gold concentrate, locally known as “black”, valued at GH¢100,000, and GH¢20,000 cash had been stolen.
CCTV cameras installed in and around the shop captured Ibrahim and Karikari in the act. A report was subsequently made to the Police, and after sustained intelligence-led investigations, personnel of the Western Central Police Intelligence Directorate at Tarkwa arrested Ibrahim at his hideout in Wassa Japa. A hammer was retrieved from him.
During interrogation, Ibrahim admitted his involvement in the offence and mentioned Karikari as his accomplice. Ibrahim told the Police that he and Karikari broke into the gold shop through a side wall using a hammer, after which he entered the shop through the hole they had created. He said Karikari remained outside and waited for him to hand over the items he had taken from the shop.
According to the prosecution, Ibrahim brought out quantities of gold concentrate concealed in a sack and handed them to Karikari, who was waiting outside. The prosecutor said Ibrahim stated in his caution statement that after the operation, they took the stolen items home and, the following day, sent them to a ghetto at Wassa Japa to process and sell them. However, the prosecution said, they were allegedly robbed of the gold concentrate by two persons identified as Gawu and Onane while at the ghetto.
The case highlights the issue of theft and burglary in the Western Region of Ghana. The Ghana Police Service has been working to curb the menace through intelligence-led investigations and public education. The sentence handed to Ibrahim serves as a deterrent to potential offenders.
Key points
- Mohammed Ibrahim was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for stealing gold concentrate valued at GH¢100,000 and cash of GH¢20,000.
- Ibrahim and his accomplice, Karikari, broke into a licensed gold buyer’s shop at Wassa Akropong in the Western Region on May 20, 2026.
- The court, presided over by Ms Victoria Vera Akonu, convicted Ibrahim on his plea and sentenced him accordingly.
