A Ghanaian court has sentenced three Nigerians to a combined 96 years in prison after they were found guilty of stealing cars in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital.
The convicts – Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze – were arrested on June 20 by the police following a series of reports that vehicles parked in public places were mysteriously disappearing.
After weeks of investigation, the three men were charged with car theft and arraigned before the Atasemanso court on July 22.
Delivering judgment, the court handed each of them a lengthy custodial sentence, stressing that the punishment was necessary both as a deterrent to others and as a way to curb the rising spate of car theft in Kumasi.
Police spokesperson for the Ashanti Region, Godwin Ahianyo, confirmed the sentencing and said the police were determined to stamp out crime regardless of nationality.
The case has attracted widespread attention in Ghana because it adds to a growing list of crimes linked to foreign nationals, particularly Nigerians.
In recent months, public debate has intensified, with many Ghanaians calling for stricter immigration controls and even the deportation of Nigerians involved in unlawful activities.
This conviction comes just months after a Tarkwa court sentenced a Nigerian woman to 20 years’ imprisonment for trafficking four young girls into prostitution.
In July, Ghana’s Immigration Service also announced the arrest of 50 Nigerians for alleged involvement in internet fraud and human trafficking.
For many in Ghana, the jailing of the three car thieves reflects both the seriousness of cross-border crime and the resolve of the country’s judiciary to deal firmly with offenders.
Security experts warn, however, that unless the underlying issues of migration, poverty, and organized crime are addressed, such incidents are likely to continue straining relations between ordinary Ghanaians and Nigerian immigrants.
The ruling has sparked mixed reactions on social media.
While some praised the harsh sentence as a necessary step to protect law-abiding citizens, others cautioned against profiling Nigerians as criminals, stressing that only a minority are involved in illegal acts.
For now, the three convicts will remain behind bars as the debate over crime and migration in Ghana rages on.
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