In an emotionally charged courtroom in Wa, Elisha Mahama Akpanyichie, the first accused in the murder of Royal Cosy Hill Hotel (Jirapa Dubai) CEO, Eric Johnson, took the stand for the first time — not to confess guilt, but to passionately plead innocence.
His tearful declaration: “I have never slaughtered even a fowl, let alone take a human life,” has become the most striking moment yet in a case that has gripped the nation with its twists, contradictions, and questions of justice.
A Trusted Worker, Not a Murderer?
Elisha’s testimony painted the picture of a loyal employee with deep respect for the late hotel owner.
He firmly denied ever harbouring any grudge against Eric Johnson, whom he described as a benefactor.
According to Elisha, his dismissal from the hotel wasn’t even carried out by Johnson himself, but rather by Michael Klugey, the Project Manager — a crucial point that, in his view, nullifies the prosecution’s supposed motive that he sought revenge.
“If I had reason to hurt anyone, it would be the person who terminated my contract, not Eric Johnson,” he told the court, emphasizing that his relationship with the deceased remained cordial throughout his employment at Royal Cosy Hill.
The prosecution’s case faced further strain when Elisha described how he voluntarily turned himself in to police in Sekondi, far from Jirapa, upon hearing about the murder.
Accompanied by his mother and acting on the advice of a senior police officer, DCOP Osei-Akoto Arthur, Elisha walked into the station knowing he had been named a suspect.
“If I was guilty, I had every opportunity to run. But I didn’t. I came forward to clear my name,” he stated.
Statements taken from his mother and the senior officer corroborated his voluntary surrender — a move rarely seen from individuals guilty of capital crimes.
The Master Key Mystery: Contradictions Undermine Prosecution
A central flaw in the prosecution’s case is the unresolved question of how Elisha could have accessed Eric Johnson’s locked hotel suite.
According to Detective Inspector Amoh, only a master key card could open the suite — and there was no sign of forced entry.
However, during cross-examination, prosecution witness Inspector Oscar Apamlea gave conflicting accounts: first stating that co-accused Belinda Miller gave Elisha the key, and later suggesting Elisha somehow processed the key himself.
This contradiction, Elisha argued, was not just confusing — it exposed a lack of credible evidence.
“How can I be guilty when even the investigators don’t know how I supposedly entered the room?” Elisha asked the jury.
Footprints, Forensics, and a Questionable Expert
Then came the most controversial aspect — the so-called forensic footprint linking Elisha to the crime scene.
Prosecutors claimed a bloody footprint at the scene matched his, but the test wasn’t done at Ghana’s official Police Forensic Lab.
Instead, it was carried out by retired Superintendent Isaac Okrah, operating through a private outfit known as Forensic Yard, which is not accredited.
Under intense scrutiny, Okrah couldn’t justify why the state forensic lab was bypassed.
Elisha further poked holes in the footprint claim, asking the court: “Do they expect anyone to believe I walked 4.2 kilometers barefoot from my home in Akoro to the hotel, climbed an electrified wall barefoot, and entered unnoticed?”
He also noted that no blood from him was found at the crime scene, despite claims he had a cut on his finger.
More Staff Had Access — Not Just the Accused
Adding further doubt, Elisha revealed — and hotel records confirmed — that at least nine staff members had access to master key cards, including cleaners and food service staff.
This flatly contradicts the narrative that only one master key was in circulation, as earlier alleged by the prosecution.
This opens the possibility of alternative suspects who had both the access and the opportunity, but who were never properly investigated.
