A 26-year-old barber, Richard Amoako, has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Tarkwa Circuit Court.

The barber conspired with a 30-year-old mason, Paa Kwasi now deceased, to rob a gold buying office at Wassa Nkonya in the Wassa Amenfi East municipality.

Amoako, who is popularly known as Jordan pleaded guilty to conspiracy and robbery.

Hathia Ama Manu, the presiding judge, sentenced Amoako to 20 years of imprisonment in hard labour on each count, but the sentences will run concurrently.

Police Chief Superintendent Alex Odonkor, Prosecuting, said Richard Quansah, the complainant owns “Same God” a gold buying office at Wassa Nkonya, but resides at Wassa Adiembra.

He said the victim Osman Adams is 22-year-old and an employee of the complainant lived at Wassa Nkonya, while Amoako and Paa Kwasi are residents of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

According to the prosecution, on October 14, 2024, Amoako and his counterpart travelled to Wassa Mampong and its environs on a robbery expedition.

He said on October 16, 2024, at about 12:30 hours, Amoako and Paa Kwasi boarded a motorbike to Wassa Nkonya where they bought a cutlass and hid same in their attire to execute the plan they hatched earlier.

He said the two went closer to the complainant’s gold-buying office and laid ambush until they detected that Adams was alone in the office.

The prosecutor said Amoako and the deceased moved to the office having in their possession gold, wrapped in a black polythene bag under the pretence of offering same for sale.

Amoako engaged the victim with the weighing of the small gold and in the process, Paa Kwasi pulled the cutlass and slashed his neck, where he sustained a deep cut and bled profusely.

The victim started screaming for help, but Amoako and Paa Kwasi felt they could be nabbed, took to their heels, and some residents rushed Adams to the Wassa Akropong Government Hospital for treatment.

Police Chief Superintendent Odonkor said the town folks got hold of Amoako and his accomplice subjected them to severe beatings until the Wassa Nkonya police had a tip-off, went to their rescue, and transported them to the Wassa Akropong Government hospital for medical attention.

He said Paa Kwasi was pronounced dead while Amoako was treated, discharged, and sent to the police station for questioning.

Prosecution said during investigations, Amoako confirmed that he conspired with the deceased to commit the crime, and the cutlass they used in the operation was retrieved and retained at the police station for evidential purposes.

The court, during its ruling also ordered Amoako’s family to pay the cost of GH¢10,000 to the victim’s boss, Richard Quansah.