ACCRA, Oct 16 (The African Portal) – A High Court in Wa in the Upper West Region of Ghana has sentenced Elisha Mahama to life imprisonment for the murder of Eric Johnson, the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Cosy Hills Hotel, popularly known as “Jirapa Dubai”.
The Principal State Attorney for the Upper West Region, Abdul Shakur Saeed, welcomed the ruling, describing it as “fair, thorough and just”. He praised the judiciary for its professionalism during the lengthy trial.
“Forensic evidence proved beyond doubt that he [Mahama] was responsible for the killing,” Mr Saeed told reporters after Wednesday’s verdict, adding that the case highlighted the importance of forensic investigation in Ghana’s justice system.
The court found Mahama guilty after evidence showed his bloodstained footprints and fingerprints at the crime scene, where Mr Johnson was found dead in January 2024.
Two other accused persons, Belinda Miller and Kweku Kankumbata, were acquitted and discharged for lack of evidence. Mr Saeed said the acquittal demonstrated the court’s impartiality.
Mr Saeed dismissed media reports suggesting he had broken down in court, clarifying that he only became emotional but did not cry.
He said the prosecution was ready to defend the verdict if the defence filed an appeal, describing the case as one of the most emotionally demanding of his 17-year career.
Mahama is to serve his sentence at the Ankaful Maximum Security Prison in the Central Region.
Mr Johnson’s murder shocked residents of Jirapa and beyond. He was widely known for his investment in tourism and job creation through the luxury resort dubbed “Jirapa Dubai.”
This story was written with additional files from Myjoyonline
