Wrongful conviction: Ataa Ayi's mechanic freed after serving 23 years behind bars

After serving 23 years behind bars, a mechanic, Yaw Asante Agyekum, who was wrongly convicted alongside Ataa Ayi, a notorious armed robber in 2002 is now a free man after the Court of Appeal set aside his conviction. 

In a judgment today (June 5, 2025) a three-member panel at the Court of Appeal, which had Justice Janapare A. Bartels-Kodwo, as its President, held that Agyekum, who was convicted 23 years ago, could not be linked to the many robberies carried out by Ataa Ayi. 

It was also the court’s opinion that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to warrant conviction and sentence.

The court, therefore, acquitted and discharged Agyekum after eight years of legal battle through his counsel, George Bernard Shaw, to secure his freedom.  

Visibly elated Agyekum, has already served 23 years of the 35-year sentence handed him by the High Court which sentenced Ataa Ayi to 70 years and 20 years in separate cases of armed robberies.

Other members of the panel were Justices Aboagye Tandoh and Stephen Oppong.