Wa High Court Sentences Elisha Mahama to Life Imprisonment for Murder of “Jirapa Dubai” CEO

Late CEO of Royal Cosy Hills Hotel [Jirapa Dubai]-Eric Johnson

The Wa High Court has delivered judgment in the murder case involving the late Mr. Eric Johnson, owner of the Royal Cosy Hills Hotel, popularly known as “Dubai Man.” 

Presided over by His Lordship Justice Yussif Assibey, the court on October 15, 2025, sentenced the principal accused person, Elisha Mahama, to life imprisonment for his role in the murder of Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Johnson’s lifeless body was discovered in the early hours of Sunday, February 11, 2024, sparking widespread shock and grief across the Upper West Region. Police investigations identified Mahama as the prime suspect in the killing, allegedly assisted by two others, Belinda Miller and Kweku Kankumbata.

However, after a lengthy trial, the court acquitted and discharged the two co-accused persons after finding them not guilty. The jury delivered a unanimous 7–7 verdict, confirming Mahama’s conviction and sentencing him to serve his term at Akanful Prison.

Speaking after the ruling, the State Attorney for the Upper West Region, Lawyer Saeed Abdul Shakur, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, describing it as a victory for justice.

Meanwhile, Belinda Miller and Kweku Kankumbata were acquitted and discharged following a unanimous 7–7 decision by the jurors. Counsel for the two, Lawyer Lwanga Bagonluri, commended the court for its fairness, noting that with 17 years of legal practice and having handled 39 cases, this particular one stood out as one of his most remarkable successes.

Relatives and friends of the late Mr. Johnson welcomed the verdict but expressed mixed feelings about the outcome. While they acknowledged that justice had been served, they lamented that no sentence could replace the life and development vision that Mr. Johnson had for the Jirapa area.

“The sentence cannot undo the many development initiatives that Eric Johnson was promoting. His death has taken away a visionary leader who was uplifting young people and transforming lives in Jirapa,” a family spokesperson noted.

In reaction to the ruling, Mr. Lawrence Nuolabong, a relative of the third accused person, Kweku Kankumbata, expressed satisfaction with his acquittal, describing the court’s decision as fair and just.

He explained that Kankumbata was only performing his duties as a security officer at the time of the incident and had no involvement in the crime. He further emphasized that his relative was merely working hard to earn an honest living and should not have been held responsible for the actions of others.

The verdict brings to a close one of the region’s most closely followed murder trials, offering a sense of closure to both the family of the late businessman and the accused persons who have been cleared of wrongdoing.