Accra: Charles Ansah, a convicted robber in his early 40s, has made a heartfelt plea to the Supreme Court, seeking a reduction in his 33-year prison sentence, of which he has already served 13 years. During his appeal, Ansah requested leniency from a five-member panel, citing that some of his accomplices had previously received reduced sentences.
According to Ghana News Agency, Ansah, visibly desperate, knelt before the court and argued that his role in the robbery was limited to taking the money, while a colleague named Hamza brandished a cutlass. He emphasized that he was unarmed during the incident and implored the court for mercy, hoping for a sentence reduction similar to that of his colleague.
Justice Amadu Tanko, in response, questioned Ansah’s motivation for the appeal, suggesting that he was following in the footsteps of his colleagues who had successfully appealed their sentences. The Justice highlighted the court’s awareness of trends in such appeals and reminded Ansah of the potential risk of having his sentence increased instead.
Without legal representation, Ansah informed the panel that his colleagues remained incarcerated at Nsawam Prisons. Despite his appeal, the panel noted a procedural issue: the original court judgment was missing from the records submitted to the Supreme Court, which led to an adjournment of the case until April 16, 2025. The panel instructed Ansah to ensure that the necessary judgment documents are included in the Supreme Court’s records for further consideration.