The Ho Circuit Court has sentenced 25-year-old Paul Avortide, alias Tinted, to 19 years imprisonment with hard labour for robbing a pregnant woman at knifepoint.
The conviction was secured on July 1, 2025, following investigations by the Volta Regional Police Command that led to Avortide’s arrest and the recovery of a stolen mobile phone.
The incident occurred around 4:00am on May 21, 2025, at Tsikpota, near New Housing, a suburb of Ho in the Volta region.
Avortide, according to reports, confronted his victim, identified as Ogechi Chidiebere, with a machete, whilst she was on her way to the Ho Municipal Hospital for antenatal care.
He robbed her of GH¢3,000 and a Tecno Spark 30c mobile phone valued at GH¢2,500.
Police later arrested 23-year-old Harmony Nbonu, also known as Arab Money, at the Ho Main Market on June 19, 2025.
He was found in possession of the stolen phone and told investigators during interrogation that he had bought it from Avortide for GH¢850.
Nbonu’s revelation led to the arrest of Avortide at Matse, a suburb of Ho where he was hiding.
He was charged with robbery under Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), as amended. Nbonu was separately charged with dishonestly receiving under Section 146 of the same Act.
During proceedings at the Ho Circuit Court, presided over by Osman Abdul Hakeem, Avortide pleaded guilty and was convicted on his own plea. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison in hard labour.
Nbonu was acquitted and discharged. Avortide has since been transferred to the Ho Regional Prison to begin serving his sentence.
