Freedom at Last: Court of Appeal Frees Mr. Ataa Ayi’s Alleged Accomplice After 23 Years in Prison

 

The Court of Appeal in Accra has acquitted and released Yaw Asante Agyekum, who was convicted in 2002 as an alleged accomplice of Ghana’s notorious armed robber, Ataa Ayi. Agyekum had served 23 years of a 35-year sentence for conspiracy to commit robbery before the court determined that he had been wrongfully convicted. The three-judge panel unanimously agreed that the prosecution did not prove Agyekum’s involvement beyond a reasonable doubt and that the evidence against him was mostly circumstantial. This acquittal marks the end of a long fight for justice.

In an emotional interview with JOYNEWS’s Kenneth Gyasi shortly after his release, Agyekum expressed, "I knew I was innocent. I always prayed to be free from prison."

He shared the moment that changed his life: "I was a motor repairer fixing Ataa Ayi’s motorbike. I didn’t know he was an armed robber; I only knew him as a taxi driver in town."

Agyekum was arrested in church in 2001, just a month after his wife became pregnant. He maintained throughout his trial and imprisonment that his only connection to Ataa Ayi was professional, as a mechanic.

His conviction in 2002 occurred during a national crackdown on violent crime, with Ataa Ayi—born Raymond Ayeetey—leading a sophisticated robbery gang. This group was known for ambushing people after bank withdrawals and terrorizing neighborhoods across Accra and Tema. Ataa Ayi was captured in 2005 and sentenced to 160 years in prison, solidifying his notorious reputation in Ghana’s criminal history.

Agyekum's release is bringing renewed attention from human rights groups, calling for a broader review of criminal cases from that time. Legal analysts point out that his case highlights issues within the justice system, particularly the reliance on weak or circumstantial evidence during high-pressure prosecutions.

His acquittal also raises questions about reparations for wrongful imprisonment, with increasing demands for compensation and support for reintegration after spending over two decades behind bars.

For now, Yaw Asante Agyekum is thankful to be free and hopes to rebuild the life that was abruptly taken from him more than twenty years ago.