NANA YAW OWUSU vs. THE REPUBLIC

Baffour J.A: INTRODUCTION We are confronted in this appeal with some of the legal technical areas of criminal jurisprudence relating to a plea of guilty and in instances where the plea is coupled with words to the effect that there is some form of explanation to the plea. The appropriateness of such a plea and its proper procedure known to the law and practice are some of the core issues in this appeal. The Appellant before us was arraigned as first accused together with eight other persons for two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery and the substantive offence of robbery, all contrary to sections 23(1) and 149 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, Act 29 of 1960. FACTS The trial at the court below concerns the Rambo style robbery of one Dora Kumi and two of her daughters in Taifa, near Accra on the 5th of February, 2003. This case gained popularity during the trial and became known as the Ataa Aryee case. The facts as related during trial are to the effect that the compl...