George Bernard Shaw, lawyer for Yaw Asante Agyekum

The lawyer for Yaw Asante Agyekum, a mechanic recently acquitted after serving 23 years in prison, has alleged that the police tortured notorious armed robber, Ataa Ayi, and another accused person to extract false confessions to implicate his client.

According to George Bernard Shaw, counsel for Agyekum, the coerced confessions formed the basis for his client’s conviction in 2010, for conspiracy to commit murder and involvement in a robbery syndicate led by Ataa Ayi.

Agyekum was sentenced to 35 years after being linked to the gang, while Ataa Ayi was handed a 160-year sentence for a series of robberies that terrorised residents in Accra in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

However, on June 5, 2025, the Court of Appeal overturned Agyekum’s conviction, citing insufficient evidence and lack of legal representation during his trial.

According to citinewsroom.com report on June 11, 2025, Shaw said that the police used brutal methods during interrogations to force confessions from Ataa Ayi and the first accused, Nana Owusu, which led to the wrongful implication of Agyekum.

“He (Yaw Agyekum) denied everything. He told the police he had nothing to do with the robberies. All he knew was that Ataa Ayi occasionally brought bikes to him for repairs,” Shaw said.

The lawyer maintained that Agyekum had only limited ties to Ataa Ayi through mutual acquaintances.

He further revealed that his client actually assisted the police in tracking down both Owusu and Ataa Ayi, a fact that was allegedly overlooked during the investigation and prosecution.

The Court of Appeal presided over by Justices Aboagye Tanoh, Stephen Oppong, and Janapare Bartels Kodwo, concluded that the prosecution failed to establish a credible connection between Agyekum and the crimes.

The panel also highlighted serious procedural flaws, including Agyekum's lack of legal representation during his trial.

Shaw described the ruling as a major vindication for his client and a stark reminder of systemic issues within Ghana’s criminal justice system.

Agyekum was originally arrested in 2002 and spent 23 years behind bars before his eventual release.

MRA/VPO

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