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No burial for man who died of suicide…Traditional Council declares
As custom and tradition in some parts of Ghana frown on “disgraceful deaths” such as suicide, the Apremdo Traditional Council in the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality of the Western Region, has vehemently kicked against the burial of a 33-year-old returnee who died of or committed suicide after killing his mother-in-law with a gun.
The deceased, Mr. Emmanuel Kwofie, who returned from Spain shot and killed Madam Elizabeth Nkrumah, 66, on August 15, 2021, at Apremdo.
The collective decision taken by the Chiefs and elders in the traditional area is to serve as a deterrent to those who may be contemplating embarking on such ignominious act.
Confirming the story to The Spectator, the Divisional Chief of Apremdo, Nana Egya Kwamina XI,explained that the nature of Kwofie’s death was an abomination and not in tune with customs and traditions of the land.
He added that the decision of the chiefs to debar Kwofie’s family from burying the corpse at the communitycemetery was to serve as a strong warning to others.
“Yes, it was a collective decision that was taken on August 16, because we deem the act as an abomination, and if nothing is done,others willfollow suit.We need to take this drastic decision to serve as a lesson to others not to go on that path.” Nana Kwamina told The Spectator.
The chief said, the family of the deceased had been notified about the palace’s decision and hoped that they would abide by it.
He, however, assured that if the family appealed to the palace, the chiefs and elders would sit to reconsider the matter, saying “we are all human.”
Nana Kwamina added that, if there were any explanations, that could also be considered and put the matter to rest.
“Because of greed, there’s so much violence in our communities, and we need to take disciplinary action to maintain social cohesion and not feuds in families and the community. We must maintain calm and restore peace for our collective good and development.” he stressed.
It is recalled that Emmanuel Kwofie, 33, killed his mother – in- law, Elizabeth Nkrumah, 66, and, later, shot himself with a single barrel gun, on Sunday, August 15, 2021.
The Police Public Affairs Officer,Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Olivia Ewurabena Adiku said, at about 9:40pm, on that day, Kwofie rushed to House Number 101/2 – Apremdo, with a single barrel gun and shot Elizabeth Nkrumah, on the left thigh.
She explained that, initial investigations revealed that the deceased (Kwofie) and Dora Nkrumah, had been in a relationship for the past 10 years and even had a boy aged, about eight years.
DSP Adiku said that, about three years ago, Kwofie left for Spain for greener pastures and on his return, found that,Dora Nkrumah, whose marriage rites he had not performed had taken another man .
“According to the complainant, the deceased(Kwofie) was not remitting her whilst he was in Spain so she had no option but to go in for another man.” she added.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Apremdo
The Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh Dompreh, has expressed concern over delays in the release of the District Assemblies Common Fund, warning that the situation is stalling development across the country.
On his facebook page, he described as a matter of urgent national importance, the Minority Chief Whip pointed to what he sees as a growing crisis of unpaid contractors, abandoned projects, and halted infrastructure works in many districts.
He noted that several communities are grappling with half completed schools, unfinished health facilities, abandoned markets, deteriorating roads, and stalled sanitation projects.
According to him, many contractors who have executed projects for district assemblies have not been paid, forcing some construction firms to demobilise from sites while workers lose their jobs.
He stressed that the District Assemblies Common Fund is not a discretionary allocation but a constitutional requirement under Article 252 of the 1992 Constitution, intended to support development at the local level.
In his view, years of delayed releases and accumulated arrears have weakened district development financing and disrupted projects meant to improve living conditions in communities.
He further argued that some payments made in recent years were largely the settlement of old debts rather than funding for new or ongoing projects, a situation he believes has affected contractor confidence and local economic activity.
He described the issue as more than a budgetary challenge, characterising it as a development emergency and a governance concern.
He therefore urged the appropriate authorities to pay outstanding DACF arrears, settle contractors who have completed their work, and ensure that transfers to districts are automatic and predictable.
He maintained that decentralisation can only succeed when district assemblies receive adequate and timely funding to carry out development projects.
He emphasised that stalled projects directly affect ordinary citizens, since they rely on such infrastructure for education, healthcare, transportation, sanitation, and economic activities.
He called for renewed attention to grassroots development, insisting that national progress should not be concentrated only in major cities but extended to all communities.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Richard Appiah, the footballer who killed two children and stored part of their bodies in a fridge at Abesim in the Bono Region in 2021 has been handed a lifetime sentence.
This was after a five member panel of judges at the Accra High Court returned a verdict of guilty against the convict.
Appiah, 32, also a draughtsman would spend the rest of his life in prison after he was convicted of murder.
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BY MALIK SULLEMANA
