The High Court in the Upper West Region has sentenced Elisha Mahama to life imprisonment for the murder of Eric Johnson, the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Cosy Hills Hotel, popularly known as “Jirapa Dubai.”
Reacting to the ruling on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Principal State Attorney Abdul Shakur Saeed welcomed the decision, describing it as “fair, thorough, and just.” He praised the judiciary for its professionalism and diligence throughout what he called one of the most emotionally taxing trials of his 17-year legal career.
“They say the wheels of justice grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine. Though we cannot bring Eric Johnson back, justice has been served,” Mr Saeed said.
Mahama was convicted based on compelling forensic evidence, including bloodstained footprints and fingerprints that linked him directly to the crime scene, where Johnson’s body was discovered in a pool of blood at his residence in Jirapa in January 2024.
Two co-accused individuals, Belinda Miller and Kweku Kankumbata, were acquitted and discharged due to insufficient evidence—a decision Mr Saeed said affirmed the court’s impartiality.
“It gladdens every lawyer when justice is dispensed fairly. Nobody is happy about Eric Johnson’s death, but every accused person deserves a fair trial,” he noted.
Addressing speculation about an appeal, the State Attorney expressed full confidence in the strength of the case.
“If the defence opts to appeal, we are ready. The Appeals Court is also our playground, and we believe this impeccable decision cannot be overturned,” he said.
Mr Saeed also clarified reports that he had shown visible emotion in court, denying claims that he broke down.
“Some reports claimed I wept or asked for clemency—that’s false. My voice changed out of emotion, but I did not cry,” he stated.
The court has ordered that Mahama serve his sentence at the Ankaful Maximum Security Prison in the Central Region.
Eric Johnson’s death sent shockwaves across Ghana, particularly in the Upper West Region, where he was celebrated for his significant contributions to tourism and job creation through his luxury resort, Royal Cosy Hills—fondly nicknamed “Jirapa Dubai.”
