Adenta Court Sentences Bolt Driver Emmanuel Mensah to 25 Years for Violent Robbery as Family of Salomey Baffoe Appeals for Release

An Adenta Circuit Court has sentenced 22-year-old motor mechanic and Bolt driver, Emmanuel Kofi Mensah, to 25 years in prison following a violent robbery of a beautician in September 2026. Presiding judge Mrs. Angela Attachie handed down the sentence after Mensah pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and causing harm. The conviction comes as Ghana's judicial system handles several high-profile cases, including the ongoing detention of senior nursing officer Salomey Awiti Baffoe, whose family is currently appealing to President John Mahama for her release. The robbery involving Mensah occurred on September 23, 2026, after the victim, Yvonne Dzane Dzifa, hired him for a ride through the Bolt platform. Instead of completing the trip, Mensah attacked Dzifa with a cutlass, slashing her wrist and finger. He stole two iPhones valued at GH₵18,000 and cash amounts ranging between GH₵3,200 and GH₵3,500, with the total value of stolen goods estimated at GH₵24,000. The victim managed to escape the vehicle and seek help, leading to a police investigation that eventually apprehended Mensah when he attempted to sell one of the stolen devices. In a separate legal development, the family of 40-year-old senior nursing officer Salomey Awiti Baffoe has made an emotional plea for her release from custody. Baffoe is currently facing charges related to the abetment of the publication of false news on social media. Her case, which was scheduled for a hearing recently, has been adjourned to October 5, 2026, due to an ongoing judges' conference. Baffoe has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and her legal team continues to argue for bail, emphasizing her role as a mother and the presumption of innocence. The Baffoe family has specifically directed their appeals to President John Mahama and the First Lady, citing the severe emotional distress of her children and the disruption to their education during her remand. While Mensah begins his lengthy sentence as a deterrent for violent crime, Baffoe remains in custody pending the resumption of court activities. These cases underscore a period of significant judicial activity in Ghana, reflecting both the strict enforcement of laws against violent robbery and the ongoing legal debates surrounding digital communication and public information.