New twist in GPHA murder case

The Ghana Police Service appears to be making contradictory statements in the gruesome murder of Josephine Tanor Asante, the former Marketing and Public Affairs Manager of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

Initially, they said sexual assault could not be ruled out in the murder case and even proceeded to court to seek an order to analyze the semen of the houseboy of the deceased, which was duly granted.

However, before the court could hear what the report says about the semen analysis, the police are already on radio claiming that there was no semen found on the deceased.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) David Eklu, Director of Police Public Affairs, told an Accra-based radio station Citi FM that the police did not find anything to suggest that the deceased was sexually assaulted.

“The forensic examination we conducted indicated that the lady was not raped unlike what is in the media. There was no sexual assault on the lady and we can confirm that. We are looking at other possibilities in terms of the investigations we are conducting,” he indicated.

Interestingly, when the houseboy Christian Agyei was put before court, the police prosecutor, Inspector Beatrice Aryee, told the Tema Magistrate Court that “…the key, which was found at the entrance of the main gate, was used in opening the bedroom of the deceased who was found dead in a pool of blood in a supine position on the floor. Photographs were taken by a crime scene investigator and swap of semen, foot and fingerprints were lifted for other examinations.”

“While the crime scene was being assessed, the suspect was seen burying a polythene bag, containing an amount of GHC430 near the boys’ quarters. The polythene bag was retrieved from the suspect and a wristwatch belonging to the deceased was concealed in it. He was suspected and arrested to have something to do with the crime. Suspect was put before court for an order for sample of swap body fluid, his finger and footprints to be taken for forensic laboratory analysis, examination and report. Investigations are ongoing,” she added.

The GPHA top official was recently killed in cold blood by unidentified assailants at her residence at Emefs Estate at Mataheko, a suburb of Tema.

She had attended an end-of-year party organized by GPHA at the Senior Club Staff House, Community 6, Tema.

The official driver of Josephine drove her in her personal Mercedes Benz saloon car. The driver later alighted at Michel Camp Bus Stop for her to continue the journey home.

Upon her arrival, the houseboy met Josephine and took a polythene bag she was holding to the kitchen and left to sleep in his room at the boys’ quarters.

The 22-year-old houseboy claimed he woke up due to unusual shout at about 3:30 am and when he came out, he saw the rear of a male in a black shirt and a pair of jeans running through the living room to the main gate of the house.

Son of the deceased reportedly also woke up and together with the houseboy, they conducted a search in the house but nothing was found and they both returned to sleep.

On January 13, 2018, at about 8:30 am, an attempt to open the door of the room of the deceased was unsuccessful. The son of the deceased called the driver of his late mother and told him about happenings in the house and he rushed to the house of the deceased.

Upon entering the house, the driver found a bunch of keys allegedly used in opening the main gate to the house at the entrance.

The key was then used to open the bedroom of the deceased who was found in a supine position in a pool of blood on the floor.

Complaint was lodged with police who arrived at the scene and later saw the houseboy burying a polythene bag containing an amount of GH¢430 close to the boys’ quarters in the house.

The police also found the wristwatch of the deceased in the polythene bag.

The houseboy was arrested in connection with the murder and remanded to reappear at a later date after his body fluid, finger and footprint had been taken for examination.

So far, management of the GPHA has announced a GHC50,000 bounty for anyone who will give credible information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

The police have also announced an additional GHC15,000 bounty.