Horror at AMA... worker beheaded

The James Town Police have arrested a ‘person of interest,’ John Yankah, a consultant with Via Affinity, an advertising company, in connection with the alleged murder of Nana Yaw Ofori, a staff of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).

The remains of the deceased, who was about 25 years old and a staff at the Bill boards Accounts Department of the AMA, were recovered at La Beach without his head. His cell phone was reportedly retrieved from an un-named person loitering at the Independence Square, after it was discovered that he had been allegedly murdered. The James Town police, since the recovery of the body last weekend, have been tight-lipped on the matter.

However, suspect Yankah was arraigned before an Accra Magistrate court yesterday and was remanded into police custody to re-appear on December 14, 2010, while investigations into the alleged murder continue.

A source close to AMA, which disclosed this to the Daily Guide newspaper, said that Nana Ofori had been complaining bitterly to some people about John Yankah. The deceased had allegedly told his immediate bosses on several occasions that he was no longer interested in working with the consultant who he claimed had been abusing his rights by using him for jobs that he (the consultant) was paid to do. “On one occasion, Nana and the consultant had a serious conflict over the subject,” the source disclosed. Nana Yaw was reported to have received threatening calls and messages which were not in the interest of the AMA.

Sometimes, he alleged that he was being asked to alter figures of invoices and receipts regarding billboard contracts and advertisements. He bosses, it is alleged, failed to take any action over his complaints since the suspect was said to be close to the AMA Chief Executive, Alfred Vanderpuye, who allegedly contracted him.

However, the deceased was transferred from the Billboards Accounts to the Final Accounts Office of the AMA. It is alleged that shortly after his transfer, he had a phone call that he should report to the office. According to the reports, Nana Yaw left home and for two weeks he never returned.

A complaint was lodged at the James town District Police Station by Rev. Mrs. Riverson, the mother of the deceased, about her missing son.

His body was later discovered at the La beach without the head.