Published 10th Mar, 2023

By Sodeeq Atanda

A high court in Accra, Ghana, has sentenced two Nigerias and one Ghanaian to 73 years in prison for the offences of rape, armed robbery and possession of firearms.

The verdict was handed down to the criminal gang by the court upon the prosecution’s success in proving its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Media reports revealed that the rapists, 29-year-old Daniel Akpan, 33-year-old Edem Asuquo, and 34-year-old Ishmael Akyene, committed the crimes against some United Kingdom schoolchildren and their teachers who were in Ghana as charity volunteers in December 2018.

Daily Mail Online reported that the convicts attacked the guesthouse where the victims were lodged upon their arrival in Ghana, raped and dispossessed them of their personal valuables at gunpoint.

The local police said in a statement that the trio confessed to the crimes in court and admitted responsibility for the 32-count charge levelled against them, thereby speeding up the trial.

“Three men have been convicted and sentenced following an investigation by police in Ghana, which has been supported by a UK police force,” the statement said.

“All three men have been sentenced to 73 years imprisonment each. 23 years for firearms offences, 25 years for robbery offences and 23 years for rape. All of the men will serve their sentences concurrently.

“All three men pleaded guilty at a court hearing in Accra in Ghana.

“The convictions are in connection with an incident, which occurred in December, 2018, in which a group of pupils and teachers from a UK school travelled to Ghana. The school or area where they were from cannot be named for legal reasons.

“Shortly after their arrival, a number of armed men entered the accommodation where the group was staying. The group were held at gunpoint, and the female victims were subjected to serious sexual assaults.”

Police authorities have concealed the identities of victims for safety reasons.

A report by Ghana Web explained that the victims were not immediately arrested, and that two of them were tracked down upon complaint and investigation.

The arrested two aided police efforts to pick the third one. But on sighting the police, he escaped through his house’s roof to Nigeria.

In collaboration with Nigerian authorities, he was identified using his passport and was subsequently extradited to Ghana to face prosecution with his co-accused.

Upon conviction, the stolen items and money recovered from the criminals were ordered to be released to their victims.

The convicts will serve their jail terms concurrently.

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