By Grace Zigah
The Wa High Court has sentenced 33-year-old Elisha Mahama Akpanichie to life imprisonment for the gruesome murder of Eric Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Cosy Hills Hotel, popularly known as Jirapa Dubai, located in the Upper West.
The verdict, delivered on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, by Justice Yussif Assibey, marks the end of a harrowing case that gripped the nation since early 2024, when the popular hotelier was found murdered under shocking circumstances.
According to a statement issued by the Public Affairs Unit of the Upper West Regional Police Command, the tragic incident occurred on February 11, 2024, at Jirapa.
Investigations revealed that the convict, Akpanichie, brutally murdered Johnson before fleeing the scene. Police immediately mounted a coordinated intelligence-led operation that led to his arrest in the Central Region within days.
Following his arrest, the suspect was subjected to detailed investigations. The police gathered critical forensic and circumstantial evidence, which was subsequently presented in court.
This evidence formed the foundation of the successful prosecution that culminated in his conviction.
After months of trial proceedings, the Wa High Court found Akpanichie guilty of murder.
In delivering judgment, Justice Assibey sentenced him to life imprisonment, which he is to serve at the Ankaful Maximum Security Prison in the Central Region.
Two other individuals — Belinda Miller and Kweku Kumbata — who were initially charged alongside Akpanichie, were acquitted and discharged by the court after the prosecution failed to establish their direct involvement in the crime.
