Steel bender jailed for machete attack over alleged girlfriend snatch

An Accra court has sentenced 52-year-old steel bender Kojo Senagbe to six months in jail for attacking a fellow resident with a machete over a suspected romantic rivalry.

Senagbe, who initially pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing harm, changed his plea after spending time on remand. The court, presided over by Judge Kwabena Kodua Obiri Yeboah, convicted him and handed down a GH¢7,200 fine. In default of payment, he will serve the full six-month term. Additionally, the court ordered him to pay GH¢5,000 in compensation to the victim.

According to Chief Inspector Belinda Asante, the incident occurred on the night of April 10, 2025, in Community 14 Annex, Lashibi, where both Senagbe and the victim, Oliver Zinto, a carpenter, reside.

Zinto was walking home around 10:30 p.m. when Senagbe confronted him and demanded he stop. When Zinto ignored the command and kept walking, Senagbe attacked him with a machete, inflicting cuts to his scalp, ear, arm, and back.

Despite the injuries, Zinto managed to subdue his attacker and wrest the weapon from him. Nearby residents rushed to provide first aid and reported the assault to the Klagon Police. A medical form was issued for further treatment.

Senagbe was arrested two days later and admitted in his caution statement that the attack was motivated by jealousy, claiming Zinto had “taken over” his girlfriend.

The police have since recovered the machete used in the attack.