ISAAC AMANIAMPONG vs. THE REPUBLIC

The appellant, Isaac Amaniampong, along with two others, was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery contrary to sections 23(1) and 149 of the Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29) as amended. The victim, Sharon Owusu Antwi, was attacked at about 3:00 am on 11 October 2006 in Takoradi, where her handbag containing money, a mobile phone, and identification cards was forcibly taken after she was pushed down and injured. The appellant and others were arrested shortly after boarding a bus to Accra, with incriminating items including the victim's ID cards found in their possession. The appellant was found guilty and sentenced to 70 years imprisonment by the High Court, reduced to 30 years by the Court of Appeal. He appealed against both conviction and sentence to the Supreme Court.

OWUSU (MS) JSC. The Appellant was charged together with two others on two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery contrary to sections 23 (1) and 149 and of the criminal and other offences Act, 1960, Act 29 as amended by Act 646 of 2003. They were arraigned before the High Court, Sekondi for trial. They pleaded not guilty. The prosecution therefore led evidence in their quest to prove the charges against them. At the end of the trial all three of them were found guilty on both counts and convicted. The 1st accused was sentenced to life imprisonment. The 2nd and 3rd accused persons were sentenced to 70 years each on both counts. Dissatisfied with both conviction and sentence, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal which dismissed the appeal against conviction but allowed the appeal against sentence and reduced the sentence of 70 years I. H. L. to 30 years I. H. L. Still dissatisfied, he has appealed to this court on the grounds: “(i) that the Court of Appeal .....