A refuse collector, Joshua Aminu, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Accra Circuit Court after attempting to rob a U.S. diplomat of his iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 8 at Cantonments in Accra.
Aminu, who pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted robbery, committed the crime using a toy gun on September 26, 2025.
Presiding Judge Mr. Jojo Hagan handed down the sentence — 10 years on each count, to run concurrently — after noting that robbery had become too common and needed deterrent punishment. The court, however, acknowledged Aminu’s guilty plea as a sign of remorse.
The convict pleaded for leniency but was found guilty based on his own admission. He has 30 days to appeal the sentence.
According to the prosecution, the complainant, Mr. John Kiona, a scientist and diplomat with the United States Embassy, was taking a walk near the Embassy enclave when Aminu confronted him and demanded his phones — an iPhone 16 Pro Max valued at GH¢18,500 and an iPhone 8 worth GH¢16,500.
The diplomat bravely resisted and grabbed Aminu’s hand, struggling with him until the gun broke — revealing it was a toy pistol. Aminu fled, but security personnel in the area quickly responded and arrested him.
A search of his backpack uncovered two kitchen knives, which were seized along with the broken toy gun.
The court described the act as “reckless and dangerous,” warning that such behavior would not be tolerated in Ghana’s capital.