Man sentenced to 30 years over Prof Benneh’s murder

Summary:

• Ebenezer Kwayisi, a mason apprentice, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for his involvement in the murder of former University of Ghana law lecturer Professor Emmanuel Yaw Benneh. Kwayisi pleaded guilty to abetment to manslaughter. The main suspect, James Nana Womba, died in police custody.

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Ebenezer Kwayisi, an apprentice mason, has been sentenced to a 30-year prison term by the Accra High Court for his involvement in the murder of former law lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Emmanuel Yaw Benneh.

The 28-year-old received his sentence today from Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh after he admitted guilt to abetting manslaughter.

Initially charged with abetting murder, Kwayisi opted to plead guilty to abetment to manslaughter under Section 239(2) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), in agreement with the prosecution. This decision resulted in a reduced sentence compared to that for murder.

According to Section 239(2) Act 30, an accused can plead guilty to a related offence based on an agreement with the prosecution.

Following this agreement, the prosecution recommended a 30-year sentence, which the court accepted. Kwayisi will serve his term with hard labor.

The Murder:
Professor Benneh was brutally murdered at his residence in September 2020.

During the trial, the main suspect, James Nana Womba, a cleaner at Professor Benneh’s residence who confessed to the crime, died in police custody on October 17, 2020.

The prosecution stated that on September 12, 2020, around 8 a.m., Professor Benneh was found dead in a corridor leading to his bedroom, hands tied behind him with a white rope, legs also tied with a green rope just below the knees, and a cloth partially inserted into his mouth. Multiple assault marks were found on his face, and blood stains were discovered on the walls, along with a hand glove and a blood-stained white rope.

Confession:
On September 13, 2020, Womba was arrested, and his fingerprints matched those found at the crime scene, as per examination by the Finger Print Section of the CID Headquarters.