Gemann's death penalty confirmed, Jagger Pee's life sentence reduced to two years

Accra (Greater Accra), 19 Nov 1998

The Court of Appeal today unanimously reduced the life imprisonment imposed on Abeiku Nyame, alias "Jagger Pee", an actor, for abetment of murder to two years imprisonment, but confirmed the death peanlty imposed in Geeman for murder.

The court, after hearing Jagger Pee's appeal against his conviction,substituted the charge of abetment for assault and a sentence of two years in hard labour with effect from May 15, 1996, the day of his conviction.

The court, composed of Mr Justice A.A. Forster, presiding, Mr Justice S.G. Badoo, and Mr Justice D.K. Afreh, unanimously dismissed an appeal filed by Nana Akwasi Agyemang, also known as "Gemann", a musician, and confirmed the death sentence passed on him for murder.

In 1995, Nana Akwasi Agyemang shot and killed a taxi driver at Dome in Accra, following an argument over payment of taxi fare.

The taxi driver had been hired by Nadia, a female friend of Gemann from Odorkor to Geeman's home in Dome.

According to Nadia the fare agreed upon was 3,000 cedis while the taxi driver said it was 4,000 cedis. Gemann thus refused to pay the deference and in the scuffle Gemann was said to have ran into his room and brought out a pistol with which he shot the taxi driver, after giving a warning shot.

Jagger Pee was alleged to have hassled the taxi driver and was holding him before the shooting. Jaggar Pee was convicted for abetment of crime and was given a life sentence and Gemann sentenced to death for murder.

Nadia and another lady, Vida, who was at Gemann's residence at the time of the incident were discharged by the court.

The third person, identified only as Kwame is still on the run.

Although the death sentence has been passed on Gemann as required by Ghana's current legislation, he is unlikely to be hanged until the vacancy for a hangman in Ghana's prison service has been filled.