A Nigerian man, Stanley Afaku, aged 36, has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment in Ghana after pleading guilty to an armed robbery at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi, Western Region.
The verdict was delivered by Her Honour Naa Amberley Akowuah of the Sekondi Circuit Court, where Afaku faced charges stemming from a violent robbery incident that shocked both hospital staff and the public. Following his conviction, the court also ordered that Afaku be deported back to Nigeria by the Ghana Immigration Service upon completion of his jail term.
According to the Western Regional Police Command, the robbery occurred on February 23, 2025. Afaku, in the company of an alleged accomplice, Samuel Nickson—who also goes by the alias Egya Acquah—stormed the hospital premises at night.
The pair reportedly confronted a security officer on duty, Nash Arthur, and held him at gunpoint. They proceeded to tie him up with his own shirt and seized his mobile phone.
After neutralizing the guard, the suspects moved into the Out-Patient Department (OPD) pharmacy, where they stole a flat-screen television before fleeing the scene. The daring attack sparked outrage, especially given that it took place at a public medical facility meant to serve the health needs of the community.
Acting on intelligence reports, police operatives eventually tracked down Afaku and arrested him on June 4, 2025, at the Esiama Bafana ghetto, a location known for criminal hideouts. During interrogation, Afaku confessed to the robbery and identified Nickson as his co-conspirator.
While Afaku admitted guilt and accepted responsibility, Nickson has denied any involvement in the crime. He has since been remanded in police custody and is also facing prosecution in a separate robbery case. He is scheduled to reappear in court on June 24, 2025.
Superintendent Olivia Awurabena Adiku, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Western Regional Police Command, issued a statement assuring the public of the police’s resolve to bring all involved to justice and reinforce security around public facilities.
She emphasized that the authorities are determined to maintain law and order and will not allow criminal activities to go unchecked—especially those that threaten the safety of critical institutions like hospitals.
Afaku’s sentencing sends a strong message that Ghana’s justice system remains firm in addressing criminal acts, regardless of nationality, and underscores the country’s commitment to protecting lives and public infrastructure.