A High Court in Wa has sentenced a man to life imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to murdering 23 people in a series of killings that shocked communities in northern Ghana. The case, which spanned several years and multiple districts, had generated widespread fear among residents before the suspect was eventually arrested and prosecuted.
The convict, Shariff Abdulai, also known as “Cristos,” admitted in court that he was responsible for the murder of Issah Yahaya and 22 other victims. Following his guilty plea, the court convicted him and handed down a life sentence with hard labour.
According to information released by the Ghana Police Service in the Upper West Region, Abdulai confessed to committing the murders in several locations across the Upper West and Savannah regions. Investigators revealed that 16 of the killings occurred in Wa, five in Bole, and one each in Banda Nkwanta and Bamboi.
The suspect was arrested on October 6, 2025, after police conducted sustained intelligence-led operations and investigations into several mysterious deaths recorded in the area. The arrest came after authorities linked multiple unsolved murder cases to a single suspect, prompting intensified police action.
Following his arrest, Abdulai was first taken before a District Magistrate Court for committal proceedings before the case was transferred to the High Court in Wa. When he appeared before the court on March 4, 2026, he was represented by legal counsel and entered a guilty plea to the charges brought against him.
The presiding judge, Justice Osei-Wusu Antwi, sentenced him to life imprisonment after accepting his plea. Authorities indicated that he will serve his sentence at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.
Police officials say the conviction marks a major step in delivering justice to the victims and their families. The security service also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining public safety and ensuring that those who commit serious crimes are brought before the law.
The case has brought relief to many communities that had been living in fear due to the string of murders linked to the convict.
