General News of 2026-10-15
Today in History: Murderer of Jirapa 'Dubai' owner Elisha Mahama sentenced to life imprisonment
One year ago, on October 15, 2025, a seven-member jury at the Wa High Court unanimously convicted Elisha Mahama Akpanichie of murdering Eric Johnson, the businessman behind the Royal Cosy Hills Hotel, popularly known as Jirapa Dubai, and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The verdict brought a major development in a case that shocked the Upper West Region after Johnson, 60, was stabbed to death at his private residence within the hotel premises in Jirapa on February 11, 2024.
Presided over by Justice Alhaji Yussif Assibey, the court found the 33-year-old former hotel human resource manager guilty of murder after the trial. Two other accused persons, Belinda Miller and Kweku Kumbata, were acquitted and discharged.
According to the prosecution, Mahama entered Johnson’s residence on the night of February 10, 2024, by scaling the fortified perimeter wall with the aid of a ladder. He allegedly made several telephone calls to Miller while on the premises, asking where he could find the master key to Johnson’s room.
The prosecution told the court that Mahama subsequently entered the room and stabbed Johnson multiple times. He allegedly took an unspecified amount of money and the deceased’s car key before using the vehicle to leave the scene. The car was later abandoned at Jirapa Zongo.
Mahama had previously worked as the hotel’s human resource manager but was dismissed shortly before the killing. The prosecution linked his dismissal to alleged sexual misconduct involving female employees, which it said had contributed to tensions among staff. These details formed part of the case presented in court.
Following the killing, the police launched an intelligence-led operation that led to Mahama’s arrest in the Central Region. Investigators gathered evidence for the prosecution, and the case eventually proceeded to trial at the Wa High Court.
Reports on the verdict said forensic evidence, including fingerprints and bloodstained footprints, helped link Mahama to the crime scene. The jury returned a unanimous 7–0 guilty verdict, after which the court sentenced him to life imprisonment at Ankaful Maximum Security Prison.
Reacting to the outcome, Upper West Regional Principal State Attorney Abdul Shakur Saeed expressed satisfaction with the judgment, describing it as fair and just.
“They say the wheels of justice grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine. Though we cannot bring Eric Johnson back, justice has been served,” he said, according to MyJoyOnline’s report on the case.
Mahama, however, maintained his innocence after the sentence, according to reports published following the judgment. His lawyer also indicated that an appeal could be pursued.
The two co-accused, Miller and Kumbata, were acquitted and discharged, underscoring that the court’s verdict against Mahama did not amount to a finding of guilt against the other defendants.
Johnson was the founder and chief executive officer of Royal Cosy Hills Hotel, the tourism facility that earned the nickname Jirapa Dubai because of its scale and attractions. The resort features a safari park, wildlife including zebras, an artificial lake and water-based recreational activities.
The businessman had sought to use the project to create jobs and attract tourists to Jirapa, helping stimulate economic activity in the Upper West Region.
His murder dealt a devastating blow to his family and the community, while raising concerns about security at the high-profile tourism facility.
As the case marks one year since the conviction, the life sentence remains a defining moment in the prosecution of Johnson’s murder, although the loss of the businessman cannot be undone.
EA
