An Accra High Court convicted Ebenezer Kwayisi, an apprentice mason, to 30 years in jail for his role in the death of Professor Emmanuel Yaw Benneh, a former law lecturer at the University of Ghana.
On March 20, the 28-year-old entered a plea of guilty to aiding and abetting homicide, and on that same day, Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh imposed the punishment.
After settling with the prosecution, Kwayisi, who had been charged with aiding and abetting murder, chose to enter a guilty plea to aiding and abetting manslaughter under Section 239(2) of the Criminal and Other Offenses (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30).
Considering that this was not murder, the penalty was lighter.
The prosecution suggested a 30-year sentence after the accord, and the court granted it. Kwayisi will work hard labor to complete his sentence.
Prof. Benneh was tragically murdered in September 2020 at his home. He was discovered dead in a pool of blood with several marks of attack on his body.
The primary suspect, James Nana Womba, a housekeeper at Prof. Benneh’s apartment, admitted to the crime but passed away on October 17, 2020, while in the custody of the police. Kwayisi was named by Womba as an accomplice in the murder.
The results of the investigations showed that Womba had recruited Kwayisi’s assistance two weeks before the murder and had planned the killing in August 2020.
On September 10, 2020, Kwayisi acknowledged planning to assassinate Prof. Benneh in his home with Womba.
