A Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced a young man to 20 years’ imprisonment for robbing a pragya rider and leaving him tied to a cocoa tree near Wawase in the Ashanti Region.
The convict, Michael Antwi Boasiako, was found guilty of robbery after the court upheld the prosecution’s case led by the Bekwai Police. The sentence was handed down on January 12, 2026.
According to facts presented in court, the incident occurred on August 14, 2025, when Antwi Boasiako and an accomplice, who is currently on the run, hired a pragya rider, Godfred Tabi, under the pretext of travelling to Wawase to visit a cottage.
The journey, however, took a violent turn when the suspects attacked the rider along the way. The prosecution told the court that the victim was overpowered, tied by both hands and legs, and fastened to a cocoa tree in a nearby bush, after which the assailants fled with his tricycle.
In a dramatic escape, the victim managed to free himself and sought help at a nearby cottage. He later alerted his elder brother, who mobilised residents to assist in searching for the suspects.
During the search, the group spotted the stolen Pragya being ridden by some individuals and attempted to effect an arrest. One suspect managed to escape, while the other was apprehended and handed over to the police. He was later identified as Michael Antwi Boasiako.
Following investigations, the accused was arraigned before the Bekwai Circuit Court, where he was convicted on two counts of robbery. The court sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Briefing journalists after the judgment, the Ashanti South Regional Police Commander, DCOP Joseph Nyaaba, commended the community for its vigilance and swift action.
He reaffirmed the police service’s commitment to combating violent crime and appealed to the public to provide information that could lead to the arrest of the accomplice still at large.
by paqmediagh/Peter Quao Adattor
