Wrongfully jailed for 23 years, innocent mechanic finally walks free

Yaw Asante Agyekum, a Ghanaian mechanic who spent more than two decades in prison for crimes he didn’t commit, has been acquitted by the Court of Appeal after a 23-year ordeal.

In a landmark ruling delivered on June 5, 2025, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal unanimously overturned Agyekum’s 2002 conviction, citing a lack of credible evidence linking him to the notorious crimes of convicted armed robber Ataa Ayi.

Justice Janapare A. Bartels-Kodwo, who presided over the panel, stated that the prosecution failed to establish any substantive connection between Agyekum and the string of armed robberies committed by Ataa Ayi. The court held that the evidence presented during trial fell short of the legal threshold required for a conviction.

The ruling comes after an eight-year legal battle led by Agyekum’s lawyer, George Bernard Shaw, to challenge the conviction and clear his client’s name.

Now 23 years into what was initially a 35-year sentence, Agyekum leaves prison a free man, having been wrongfully associated with one of Ghana’s most infamous criminals. While Ataa Ayi was sentenced to a total of 90 years in separate cases, Agyekum had maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration.

Justices Aboagye Tandoh and Stephen Oppong joined Justice Bartels-Kodwo on the appellate bench that delivered the decision. Agyekum, who appeared visibly relieved and emotional, was discharged immediately following the judgment.

The case has reignited calls for criminal justice reform and more robust safeguards against wrongful convictions in Ghana's legal system.