Tamale High Court Sentences Former Police Officer and Accomplice to 25 Years for Armed Robbery

The Tamale High Court has sentenced a former police officer, G/Cpl Suleman Ayuba Gbana, and his accomplice, Adam Siba, to 25 years in prison with hard labour for their roles in a violent 2020 robbery. The sentencing, delivered on July 20, 2026, concludes a long-standing legal battle following a high-profile attack on foreign exchange dealers in the Northern Regional capital. While the two primary defendants were convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery, a third suspect, Mohammed Iddrisu, was acquitted of all charges due to insufficient evidence.

The case stems from an incident on April 15, 2020, when a syndicate targeted two foreign exchange dealers in Tamale. During the brazen daylight operation, the victims were attacked and shot, and the robbers escaped with GH¢530,000 along with various other foreign currencies. The violent nature of the crime and the subsequent revelation of a law enforcement officer's involvement caused significant public outcry and raised concerns about the integrity of the security services at the time.

Investigations into the robbery accelerated after a suspect identified Corporal Gbana as a member of the syndicate. On April 23, 2020, police conducted a targeted search of Gbana’s residence, uncovering a Ghana Police Service-issued pistol and ammunition that he had unlawfully retained. This critical piece of evidence linked the officer directly to the crime, leading to his arrest and eventual dismissal from the police force as the trial proceeded.

In passing the sentence, the court emphasized the severity of the crime and the breach of public trust committed by a serving officer. The presiding judge also ordered that the recovered police firearm and ammunition be returned to the Ghana Police Service. This verdict is seen as a significant step in the judiciary's efforts to curb violent crime and ensure that all individuals, regardless of their status or profession, are held accountable for criminal activities that threaten public safety and the local economy.