Volta Police secure 19 year jail term for armed robber in Ho

The Volta Regional Police Command has secured a major legal victory with the successful conviction and sentencing of a notorious armed robber, Paul Avortide, popularly known as “Tinted.” The 25-year-old was handed a 19-year sentence with hard labour by the Ho Circuit Court on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.

According to police reports, the incident occurred on May 21, 2025, at around 4:00 a.m. at Tsikpota near New Housing, Ho. The convict, wielding a machete, attacked a pregnant woman identified as Ogechi Chidiebere, a Nigerian national residing in Ho, while she was en route to the Ho Municipal Hospital for antenatal care. Avortide robbed her of GH¢3,000.00 and a Tecno Spark 30c mobile phone valued at GH¢2,500.00.

Following weeks of investigations, a breakthrough came on June 19, 2025, when police intelligence led to the arrest of 23-year-old Harmony Nbonu, alias “Arab Money,” at the Ho main market. Nbonu was found in possession of the stolen mobile phone. Under interrogation, he revealed that the phone had been sold to him by Paul Avortide for GH¢850.00.

A coordinated operation between the police and Nbonu led to Avortide’s arrest at Matse, a suburb of Ho, as he attempted to flee town.

Upon conclusion of the investigation, Avortide was charged with robbery under Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) as amended by the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act, 2003 (Act 646). His accomplice, Nbonu, was charged with dishonestly receiving under Section 146 of the same Act.

During proceedings at the Ho Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Osman Abdul Hakeem, Avortide pleaded guilty to the charge of robbery and was sentenced to 19 years in prison with hard labour. Nbonu, however, was acquitted and discharged.

Paul Avortide has since been handed over to the Ho Regional Prison authorities to begin serving his sentence.

In a statement, Chief Inspector Francis Kwaku Gomado, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Volta Regional Police Command, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to maintaining law and order in the region.

“The Command remains resolute in its efforts to track down and bring to justice all individuals who pose a threat to peace and security in the Region,” the statement concluded.