Gomoa beach terror jailed

Gomoa Fetteh (Central Region) -- A fisherman described by the police as a known rogue who has been terrorizing tourists at knife-point at Gomoa Fetteh beach in the Central Region, has eventually been grabbed.

Kweku Tawiah is notorious for snatching bags, cameras and other items from visitors to the beach resort has been arraigned before the Swedru Circuit Court. Mr P.K. Richardson, the presiding judge stated that, Tawiah's activities are inimical to tourism and investment in the country.

He has consequently sentenced Tawiah to five years imprisonment with hard labour. Tawiah aged 32, pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing and was convicted on his own plea.

In the same dock with Tawiah was John Kwesi Mensah, a photographer of Nyanyano charged with dishonestly receiving stolen items from Tawiah. He pleaded not guilty, and the court granted him a ?5 million bail with a surety to be justified.

According to the prosecution, there had been several reports about Tawiah demanding cash and other things from foreign tourist who visited the beach. It is alleged that each time the tourists refused his demand, Tawiah would snatched their cameras, cash, bags and other items at knife-point, threatening to stab them.

The prosecution said in the morning of September 11, 1999, two Germans who were former students of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital visited Tills Hotel, from where they strolled to the beach. It said on their way back, the visitors met Tawiah who demanded a bottle of mineral water they were holding.

The prosecution said their refusal angered Tawiah who pulled out a knife menancingly to stab them and then snatch their bag containing several items including cash, an Olympus camera and a swimming costume.

It said on September 10, 2000, Tawiah again attacked a German couple and demanded cash from them. After refusal, Tawiah snatched their camera and their bag containing $600, ?150,000 cash and other valuables.

Tawiah later sold the camera to J.K. Mensah at Nyanyano for ?80,000 and the later resold it to another person for ?400,000. The police however, retrieved the camera later. After the theft, the police proceeded to conduct a search in Tawiah's room at Fetteh.

The search revealed most of the stolen items. Those who had fell victim to Tawiah's criminal activities were invited for an identification parade and they all identified Tawiah as the person who had been tormenting them at the beach.