40-year-old woman goes blind after pastor allegedly hits her head against a wall

A shocking incident has come to light in Tarkwa-Maakro, Suame Municipality, Ashanti Region, where a 40-year-old woman has been left blind after she was allegedly assaulted by her boyfriend.

The suspect has been identified as a self-styled pastor, Douglas Appiah, 43, who became a street preacher after losing all members of a church he established years ago.

According to the victim, Naomi Asante, her boyfriend subjected her to severe beatings after she decided to end their relationship and move out of the room they were occupying.

She disclosed that the suspect hit her head against a wall multiple times, leading to her blindness.

Naomi Asante narrated her horrific ordeal to student journalists at the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies, Obaaku Sika Amponsah and Asonaba Kwadwo Wusu, on Sunday, July 7, 2024.

She revealed that she had her sight intact until the attack and was later locked up in a room for a week, left to die.

According to her, doctors at Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital have warned her that she must take immediate action to reverse the condition or risk permanent blindness.

The suspect has since been arrested by police in the area.

The Assembly Member for the area, Prince Asamoah Boakye, confirmed that the victim was indeed locked in a room.

He added that Naomi Asante showed signs of being attacked, according to police preliminary investigations.

However, Pastor Douglas Appiah, the accused, has denied the allegations, claiming that Naomi has a "spiritual problem" that causes her to become violent and that she fell and hit her head on the ground, leading to her blindness.

The contradictory accounts have raised further questions about the incident, with residents in the area confirming that Naomi was not blind before the incident.