BY: Daniel Orlando | VoltaOnline
Five years after the gruesome murder of Marcus Mawutor Adzahli, former Assembly Member for Sogakope South Electoral Area, the High Court in Ho has sentenced eight individuals for their roles in the crime.
Presiding Judge, Justice John Ekow Mensah on Thursday, May 22, 2025 handed a life sentence to the ringleader, Richard Adikyere, convicted of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and robbery. His accomplices, Emmanuel Xetro and Stephen Adzibolo, received 47-year prison terms.
Earlier during the trial, four other accused individuals—Obed Ayornu, Michael Sam, Samuel Kofi Zotorvi, and Christian Zotorvi—accepted plea deals and were each sentenced to 15 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, on March 1, 2020, at about 1:30 a.m., Adikyere, Adzibolo, and others stormed the residence of Adzahli in Sogakope, breaking in with cement blocks. They were armed with a pump-action gun and two pistols, one of which Adikyere had stolen in an earlier robbery.
They shot him three times at close range, resulting in fatal head and chest injuries, as confirmed by a post-mortem at the Sogakope District Hospital. Before fleeing, the attackers stole a significant sum of money.
Investigators revealed that one convict, Emmanuel Hedzro, used part of his stolen money to purchase a motorbike worth GH¢4,800. The criminals were tracked down and arrested at various locations, including Ashaiman.
During interrogations, Adikyere admitted to firing the fatal shots. The court ruled based on overwhelming evidence presented by the prosecution.
Tensions ran high after the verdict, as a handcuffed Adikyere attempted to attack journalists capturing his image.
Meanwhile, Geoffrey Adzahli, father of the deceased, described the loss as devastating, calling his son the family’s breadwinner. Despite the pain, he expressed gratitude to investigators and the Ghana Police Service for their dedication to securing justice.
“They did a great job. This is a victory for justice, and I thank everyone who contributed,” he remarked.
Senior State Attorney, Andrews Dodzi Adugu reassured Ghanaians of the state’s commitment to enforcing the law, urging the youth to focus on productive ventures.
The deceased was a popular young businessman, known for his ventures in telecom products including mobile money services, which employed a number of young people in the area. His funeral attracted many people in spite of the Covid-19 restrictions at the time.
