Police Probe Woman’s Death

The Kumasi Police are trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of a 21-year-old woman, Victoria Kafui, alias Aku Biribi, who died on October 27, this year.

She is believed to have died under questionable circumstances after complaining of a severe stomach ache before her death.

According to Chief Superintendent Paul Siaw of the Kumasi Central Police, one Mr Diakpi who was with three others reported at the Suame police station on October 31 that he had a telephone call from one Dr Benjamin Acquaye of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), informing him that he, Dr Acquaye, has sent the body of Aku Biribi to the KATH mortuary after he had combed through the Kumasi metropolis looking for her relatives to inform them about her sudden death.

Chief Supt Siaw said on October 25, the deceased, who lived with her guardian at Oforikrom, left the house to visit her parents at Bantama when her guardian, Benedicta Adu, left for Accra. He said when the deceased got to her parents, her father suspected and accused her of being pregnant which she denied.

Chief Supt Siaw said on October 26, a day after she visited her parents, Aku Biribi informed her landlady, Akua Nyarko, that she was not well and that she was going to see her parents again.

He added that after the deceased had left the house, she was not seen or heard of till about 9 p.m. when one Daniel Adu-Tutu, who has been identified as the boyfriend of the deceased, claimed he received a telephone call from the deceased that she was standing near the Oforikrom police station and that he, Adu-Tutu, should come over and pick her to the KATH for treatment. He said based on this information, Adu-Tutu claimed he asked his sister, Vida Boateng, to accompany him to take the deceased to KATH.

Chief Supt. Siaw quoted Adu-Tutu as saying that when he and his sister arrived, the deceased was squatting and complained of severe stomach ache. He said Adu-Tutu and his sister took the deceased in a taxi with the intention of were taking her to the KATH.

However, when they got to the Amakom roundabout, there was a heavy traffic jam and also the deceased was groaning in pain and so they decided to take her to the Boatemaa Memorial Hospital, which was nearer. He said when they arrived at the hospital, they met two nurses on duty, namely, Evelyn Afriyie Akowuah and Mavis Kessewa who admitted the deceased and called in Dr Acquaye, who is a supervising doctor at the clinic.

Chief Supt Siaw said as at the time Dr Acquaye arrived, the deceased was experiencing dizziness and was bleeding with severe abdominal pains. Her condition became stable later, until 12 midnight when Dr Acquaye decided to take her to the KATH in his own private vehicle.

Chief Supt. Siaw said on their way to the KATH, the sister of Adu-Tutu decided to go home to look after her children since it was late in the night. He said a few metres to the main entrance of the KATH, the deceased collapsed and died.

Chief Supt. Siaw said Adu-Tutu immediately vanished from the scene when he realised the lady was dead, leaving Dr Acquaye alone to his fate. He said Dr Acquaye claimed because he did not know any relatives of the deceased, he sent the corpse to the KATH morgue after which he started looking for her relatives.

Chief Supt. Siaw said it was four days after the death of Aku Biribi that Dr Acquaye claims he got the telephone number of Mr Walter Diakpi who coincidentally happened to be the grandfather of the deceased and called him.

He said all those connected to the death of Aku Biribi including Adu-Tutu and his sister, Dr Acquaye, the two nurses and the KATH mortuary attendant are currently on bail and are assisting the police in their investigations.