How Ghanaian women have been murdered in recent times

The number of murder cases keeps escalating. It prickles minds! And the quest to unravel the mystery surrounding the deaths is never doused whether the pace of investigations are slow or otherwise.

Few days ago, it was reported that Ruth Eshun - a nurse was allegedly raped and murdered at Ayuom in the Ashanti region. Having been married for 11 years, plans to commemorate the occasion has turned sour as the family is left with no option than to mourn and make arrangements for her burial.

Kwadwo Arhin, husband of Ruth and a lecturer at Kumasi campus of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), said his wife went out to withdraw money but never returned.

“At 9 o’clock, I had to go to the police and make a report of a missing person…the whole night, I moved from police station to hospital emergency centres all over Kumasi.

“After that call, I received another call asking me to quickly come back home. So, I got really worried and I sensed danger. Then after a few minutes with somebody crying on the phone: ‘someone has killed Ruth.’ That is when I got to know my wife had been murdered,” a heartbroken Kwadwo Arhin narrated. Ruth was found dead a few metres from her house at Sewua in the Bosomtwe District on Tuesday, February 4, according to reports.

Prior to this, several murder cases, particularly of women had been recorded, cases which remain unresolved. Here’s a chronicle:

1. Murder of ex-GPHA manager

Tema Port's Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Josephine Asante was murdered on January 13, 2019, at her EMEFS Estates home, near Afienya, in the Greater Accra Region. Amos Apeku and Christian Adjei, her official driver and houseboy respectively were hauled up in court. Mr. Apeku was later in March granted bail by the High Court in Accra.

2. Two women found dead at Abrepo

In March last year, the lifeless bodies of two unidentified women were found close to an uncompleted building at Abrepo, a suburb in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi. Although the cause of death was unknown, residents suspected the two were murdered and dumped there.

3. Woman murdered at Agona Swedru

A 34-year-old woman was murdered in a bush at Agona Swedru in the Central region. The said incident was reported by Graphic Online on July 18, 2019.

The deceased, a sobolo seller, identified as Mariam Adu, was found dead with blood oozing from her nose in a bush at Kwesimoko, a suburb of Agona Swedru around 5pm.

Reports suggested that Mariam who stayed at Kwesimoko was returning home after her trading activity when the incident occurred. After a careful examination of the scene by the police, it was observed that she might have struggled with her assailant before her death.

The blouse which she was spotted wearing on top of her skirt was in tatters and there were several traces in the bush which might suggest that she struggled with the attacker before being strangled to death.

4. Woman murdered at Breman Asikuma SHS

In April last year, Mercy Yaa Afful, a 45-year-old was reportedly raped and murdered at Breman Asikuma Senior High School (SHS) in the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa (AOB) District of the Central region by unknown assailants.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 3am. The deceased was said to be in a black trouser which had been pulled to her knee level. It was discovered that she had a deep cut on the right side of the head and her forehead. There were bruises on her face as well.

It was suspected that the perpetrators hit her with cement blocks as some were found with blood stains close to the lifeless body.

5. Woman found dead in gutter at Agormanya

The body of a lady believed to be in her early 20s was found in a gutter at Agormanor in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern region on June 23, 2019. At the time Sandra’s body was discovered, she was naked.

6. Woman murdered at Santasi-Hemang

A lady said to be in her late 20s was also found dead at Santasi-Hemang in the Ashanti Region on Sunday, October 13, 2019. She was identified as Ohemaa. Residents who were at the scene expressed shock while suspecting she was murdered.

7. 58-year-old murdered by unknown assailants at Awutu Ahentia

Barely 6 days to 2019 Christmas, the family of Lydia Andoh, was thrown into a state of sorrow as their beloved was murdered by unknown assailants at Awutu Ahentia in the Awutu Senya West District of the Central Region.

The deceased, according to the police, was found in a pool of blood. There were several injuries on her face. Her assailants, the police said, did not take any material thing from her. Police Chief Inspector Stephen Tamakloe, Awutu Bereku Station Officer in an interview mentioned that preliminary checks revealed the 58-year-old was hit with something before she fell and died.

8. 21-year-old lady suspected to have been murdered in Kumasi

The death of Augustina Tindanzor, a former student of Saint Louis Senior High School was reported on January 17, 2020. Reports suggest the 21-year-old left home for work and never returned – leaving her father devastated.

According to reports, residents found Augustina’s dressing bag abandoned on packed concrete blocks before the body was found in a nearby bush. The incident occurred at Ahenema Kokoben new site in Kumasi.

There are a lot more! In all of these cases, the police served indications investigations were being carried out. Nonetheless, it appears nothing concrete has been found.