Residents of Upper West Region in Uproar Over Transfer of Murder Case to Kumasi High Court

Residents of the Upper West Region are up in arms against the Chief Justice of Ghana for planning to transfer the murder case of the late Mr. Eric Johnson, former CEO of Royal Cozy Hotel, from the Wa High Court to the Kumasi High Court. The move has been met with widespread anger and frustration, with many residents viewing it as a gross injustice.

The late Eric Johnson was murdered on Sunday, February 11, 2024, and the case has been ongoing at the Wa High Court. However, in a recent decision, the Chief Justice has directed that the case be transferred to the Kumasi High Court, citing "a request by one of the accuse persons mother" as reasons for the transfer.

However, residents of the Upper West Region are adamant that the transfer will have a significant impact on the delivery of justice for the late Mr. Johnson. According to them, many of the witnesses who have come forward to testify in the case are residents of the Upper West Region, and it will be difficult for them to travel to Kumasi to give evidence.

"This is a blatant disregard for the principles of fair hearing and justice," said a resident of Jirapa Mr. Dakurah Ephraim. "How can we expect witnesses to travel all the way to Kumasi when they have already shown their willingness to testify in our court? It's unfair and unjust."

Another resident added, "We want justice for Mr. Eric Johnson, and we want it to be delivered in our own region. We don't want this case to be taken away from us just because it's convenient for someone else."

The residents are also concerned that the transfer of the case will undermine confidence in the judiciary and create a sense of mistrust among the people.

"We urge the Chief Justice to reconsider this decision and allow justice to be delivered in our region," said a local community leader Mr. Suleman Abudu. "We are willing to work with the authorities to ensure that justice is served, but we cannot accept this kind of treatment."

The news has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many Ghanaians expressing their discontent and frustration with the decision.

The government has been called upon to intervene and ensure that justice is delivered in a fair and transparent manner. As the controversy continues to simmer, residents of the Upper West Region remain resolute in their demand for justice for Mr. Eric Johnson, and they will not rest until they see it delivered in their own region.

Background

The renowned businessman, Eric Johnson, was reportedly killed in Jirapa, in the Upper West Region.

Mr. Johnson, who owns the Royal Cosy Hills Hotel popularly known as Jirapa Dubai, is said to have been murdered at the facility, and his body was discovered in the early hours of Sunday, February 11, 2024.

Sources at the hotel indicate that the business mogul was found dead in a pool of blood in his room, with deep wounds on his body suspected to have been inflicted by his killer.

Leading the prosecution at the Wa court, Chief Superintendent of Police, Abdulai Amadu Alichewu, first informed the court of the change in the charge sheet.He also prayed the court for four of seven of the suspects to be discharged and acquitted.

Mr Amadu Alichewu concluded by saying that the prosecution has incontrovertible evidence showing that the prime suspect, Eliasah Mahama Akpanyikye connived with his girlfriend, Belinda Miller to kill Mr Johnson.

The court presided over by Maxwell Maxbrain Titiriku remanded Mr Mahama Akpanyikye to prison custody whilst Miss Miller and Kweku Kumbata are to be in police custody to reappear on April 15.

Mr Akpanyikye who was the former human resource manager of the Hotel was sacked on February 9, together with his girlfriend who was a front desk officer at the facility and four others.

He was sacked for allegedly having multiple sexual relationships with more than four female employees of the hotel which resulted in fighting and unhealthy rivalry among the female workers, thereby impeding work at the hotel.

The hotel management later rescinded the decision to sack 26-year-old Belinda Miller who is a national service person.

The prosecution further disclosed that Eliasah Mahama Akpanyikye entered the private residence of Eric Johnson on the night of February 10, scaling the fortified fenced wall with the aid of an aluminium ladder.

Available phone records to the police indicated that he placed several calls to Belinda Miller whilst at the private residence asking her where he could locate the master key to Mr Johnson's room.

Eliasah Mahama entered Mr Johnson's room and stabbed him multiple times leaving him naked and in a pool of blood.

The prosecution revealed that he also took an unspecified amount of money from the room and his private Nissan car key which he used to go out of the crime scene and later abandoned the car at Jirapa Zongo.

The prosecution also told the court that Eliasah Mahama on the evening of February 10, left another girlfriend, Laureate Asare in his room with the pretext of going to buy her food.

Miss Asare slept off when she saw no sign of his boyfriend, only waking up to see him wearing a towel.

When Loretta asked Eliasah where the food was, he said he could not buy it because he forgot to pick money along with him.

She realised that there was a cut in his hand which was bandaged. As curious as she was, she asked what was the cause.

Eliasah responded that he got injured after the door forcefully closed on his hand.

He, however, told the police upon investigation that he got injured when he was cutting vegetables to prepare food.

The prosecution in its evaluation revealed that the first accused was not left-handed and could not have cut his right hand while cutting vegetables.

He, however, left the Jirapa town during the wee hours of the morning to Takoradi where he was arrested and airlifted to Wa.

Mr Amadu Alichewu said that they have incontrovertible evidence showing that the prime suspect, Eliasah Mahama Akpanyikye connived with his girlfriend, Belinda Miller to kill the CEO of Jirapa Royal Cosy Hills Hotel.

The court asked the prosecution to liaise with the Office of the Attorney General to speed up investigations.