By By kayyyy, Bartanewsmargazin News | May 3, 2025
In Ghana, the name Ataa Ayi evokes fear, fascination, and, in recent years, curiosity about redemption. Raymond Ayee Ayeetey was born in Adabraka, Accra. He became the country’s most infamous armed robber in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His exploits terrorized communities from Kumasi to Cape Coast.
His story is rooted in desperation. It is marked by audacious crimes. This culminated in a 160-year prison sentence. He surprisingly transformed into a prison pastor by 2025. This article traces Ataa Ayi’s historical journey, his impact on Ghanaian society, and the lessons his life offers today.
A Troubled Beginning
Raymond Ayee Ayeetey’s early life mirrored many in Accra’s bustling suburbs. He was born in Adabraka. He attended school in Odorkor until class four. His education was disrupted when his mother moved to the UK.
“School stopped, and life got tough,” said childhood friend Kwame Asante from Adabraka. Ayeetey learned mechanics, then became a taxi driver, known for his charm and respect toward passengers. His driving skills, later legendary, shone early, navigating Accra’s chaotic streets with ease.
In 1998, a pivotal moment shifted his path. Hired to drive to a funeral in Akropong, Ayeetey crashed his master’s car, leaving him jobless and in debt. “That accident changed him,” said Kumasi mechanic Kofi Amoah, who knew him then.
Desperate to support his pregnant wife, Ayeetey confided in a friend, who introduced him to Eddie, a car looter seeking a skilled driver. Despite initial reluctance, financial pressure drew Ayeetey into crime, setting the stage for his infamous career.
The Rise of Ataa Ayi
By 1999, Ayeetey, now Ataa Ayi, was a key driver for a robbery gang targeting bank clients. Their first heist netted 12 million old cedis, with Ataa Ayi pocketing 2.5 million—a fortune then. “Money changed everything,” said Tamale historian Adwoa Nkrumah. The gang’s tactics were bold: they trailed victims from banks, striking in traffic or at homes.
A 2000 robbery saw them steal 22 million cedis from a man in Accra, while another hit targeted a pastor in Osu, yielding 6 million cedis after a failed church raid.
Ataa Ayi’s driving prowess defined his notoriety. Police records note his ability to reverse at 100 km/h during chases, evading capture like a Hollywood stuntman. “He was untouchable,” said retired officer Kofi Owusu from Accra. The gang, armed after finding a gun in a police car, escalated their violence, robbing buses and hijacking cars.
Rumors of charms protecting Ataa Ayi from bullets fueled his myth, with his name becoming a synonym for thieves across Ghana. By 2000, billboards bearing his face dotted five regions, marking him as Ghana’s most wanted.
A Reign of Terror
Ataa Ayi’s gang, led by seasoned robber Eric Frederick Lamptey Annan (alias Nunnboe), targeted high-value marks. In 2003, they robbed businesswoman Dora Kumi in Taifa of $65,000 and 4,500 cedis, using motorbikes and cars in a coordinated attack.
Another 2003 heist saw them shoot a Japanese national, Mobuyoshie Mochizuku, who died after losing 128 million cedis. “Fear gripped Accra,” said Cape Coast elder Afi Mensah. The gang’s haul, estimated at 700 million old cedis plus cars and jewelry, reflected Ghana’s cash-heavy economy before mobile money.
Communities suffered deeply. In Takoradi, victims recounted trauma from gunpoint robberies, while Kumasi markets buzzed with tales of Ataa Ayi’s daring. “He was a ghost,” said trader Ama Yeboah from Kejetia.
Yet, his violence—shooting resistors and firing in public—drew public outrage, prompting a massive police manhunt led by ACP Kofi Boakye. By 2000, most gang members were dead or arrested, but Ataa Ayi eluded capture, hiding in Chorkor and beyond, his legend growing with each escape.
Capture and Conviction
Ataa Ayi’s downfall came unexpectedly on February 28, 2005, at his sister’s house in Teshie-Nungua. Acting as caretaker, he beat a tenant for insulting his mother, prompting a police report for assault. Officers, unaware of his identity, arrested him while he dried clothes.
“They found Ghana’s most wanted by chance,” said Bolgatanga storyteller Kwesi Appiah. At the station, his true identity emerged, ending a six-year manhunt. Ataa Ayi begged for his life, fearing execution.
Trials revealed the extent of his crimes. In 2005, Justice Baffoe Bonnie sentenced him to 160 years with hard labor for multiple robberies, including a 2004 church heist and the Kumi robbery. Ataa Ayi claimed torture and coerced confessions, alleging some witness perjury, but evidence overwhelmed his defense. “Justice was served,” said Sunyani lawyer Fatuma Said. By 2010, additional sentences, like 20 years for a 2004 church robbery, solidified his fate at Ankaful Maximum Security Prison in Cape Coast.
Redemption and Legacy
In prison, Ataa Ayi transformed. By 2013, he was a Church of Pentecost elder at Nsawam Prison, later becoming an evangelist at Ankaful. “He found God,” said prison officer Courage Akyem in Ho. Leading inmates in prayer, Ataa Ayi expressed regret, seeking a pardon to continue his ministry. “I’ve changed,” he told visitors in 2025, his once-fearsome presence softened. As national inmate leader, he enjoys privileges like kitchen duties, reflecting his reformation.
Ghana’s response is mixed. In Kumasi, some see him as a cautionary tale, while Accra youth admire his audacity. “He’s a legend, good or bad,” said student Kofi Amoah from Legon. His story highlights systemic issues—poverty, limited education—that fuel crime, urging reforms. A 2025 prison outreach in Tamale aims to share his redemption story, inspiring youth to avoid his path. “Ataa Ayi’s life teaches choice,” said Adwoa Nkrumah. “Crime or change.”
A Historical Reflection
In 2025, Ataa Ayi’s saga remains a Ghanaian touchstone. From Adabraka’s streets to Ankaful’s cells, his journey—from driver to robber to pastor—mirrors the nation’s struggles and resilience. “He’s part of our history,” said Afi Mensah. Whether feared or forgiven, Ataa Ayi’s legacy challenges Ghana to address root causes of crime while celebrating second chances, a story etched in the nation’s heart.
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