A notorious serial killer Shariff Abdulai, popularly known as ‘Cristos’, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Wa High Court with hard labour for murdering 23. The convict is to serve his sentence at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison. His Lordship Justice Osei-Wusu Antwi awarded the sentence on Wednesday, March 4, after the accused admitted to killing sixteen people in Wa, five in Bole, and one each in Banda Nkwanta and Bamboi.

A press release by the Upper West Regional Police Commander, DCOP Francis Yiribaare, noted, “On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the High Court in Wa sentenced Shariff Abdulai, alias 'Cristos' to life imprisonment for the murder of Issah Yahaya and twenty two (22) others. The convict pleaded guilty to killing sixteen (16) people in Wa, five (5) in Bole and one (1) each in Banda Nkwanta and Bamboi.

“The accused was represented by counsel and pleaded guilty simpliciter to the charge. Upon his own plea, the presiding Judge, His Lordship Justice Osei-Wusu Antwi, sentenced him to life imprisonment In Hard Labour.

The convict was arrested on October 6, 2025, following sustained, intelligence-led operations and investigations. He appeared before the High Court on March 4, 2026, after committal from the District Magistrate Court.

Last month, the High Court in Accra’s Criminal Court 1 handed former footballer Richard Appiah a life sentence for the murder of two teenagers, Louis Agyemang, 12, and Stephen Sarpong, 15, and for storing one victim’s remains in a refrigerator.

The sentence followed a unanimous guilty verdict by a seven-member jury in the Abesim murder trial, where Appiah was found responsible for the killings of 12-year-old Louis Agyemang Jr. and 15-year-old Stephen Sarpong in the Bono Region.

The verdict was delivered on Monday, February 23, 2026, after both the prosecution and defence presented their final addresses to the jury. Justice Ruby Aryeetey, who presided over the case, then provided a summing-up before the jury reached its decision.

Court records show that the murders took place in August 2021, with the victims’ bodies later discovered in a locked room at Appiah’s residence. One body was found lying in the room, while the other had been placed inside a refrigerator.

A pathologist testified that one boy died from strangulation and the other from severe blood loss. Appiah admitted to causing the deaths but sought to defend himself on the grounds of insanity, claiming he suffered from schizophrenia at the time and did not comprehend the nature or wrongfulness of his actions.

The court heard that Appiah underwent psychiatric evaluation, and though initially declared unfit for trial, he was later deemed fit to stand.

Prosecution lawyers, however, argued that Appiah acted deliberately. They pointed to evidence showing he concealed the bodies, attempted to destroy evidence, and even participated in search efforts, actions the state said indicated calculated intent and awareness of wrongdoing.

During the trial, the prosecution called five witnesses. Appiah testified in his own defence and brought forward one witness, his father, to support his case.

His trial commenced on March 14, 2024, after the date was set at a Case Management Conference held on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, before Justice Ruby Aryeetey.

The prosecutors used several pieces of evidence in the case. These included statements the accused person gave to investigators after being officially cautioned, medical reports showing the cause of death of the victims, pictures of body parts and burnt objects, and a formal statement of the charges against the accused.