Stray Bullets Kill One At Teshie

When Edmund Ayeh, 36, Bio-Chemist and Project Manager at Cadbury Ghana Ltd. decided to have a drink at "Next Door" a popular drinking spot at Teshie last Saturday, little did he know that he would meet his untimely death.

Narrating the incident to The Dispatch, an eyewitness said Ayeh was in the company of his friend Dr. Eugene Owusu who had just returned from the United Kingdom.

Both of them, the eyewitness said, were relaxing at "Next Door" when they noticed some misunderstanding between a group of young men and one of the bar attendants.

He said one of the workers at "Next Door" apparently tried to enquire what was the problem but he was slapped on the face by one of the young men.

"Blood started oozing from the nose of the worker" the eyewitness said. At this juncture, one of the young men said: "Officer lets go but we would make sure that this place (Next Door) is closed down."

According to the eyewitness, gun-shots later started coming from the direction of the sea towards where they were playing the music.

Ayeh who was then dancing, was hit by a bullet from the left to the right side of his mid-section. Another one hit him in the elbow.

In a bid to save Ayeh's life, he was rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Dr. Ayertey, an uncle of Ayeh also told The Dispatch that he rushed to the hospital when he heard of his nephew's predicament.

"Unfortunately, the surgeon on duty, was nowhere to be found. After about two hours' search for him, I decided to call 37 Military Hospital for help," he said.

Dr. Ayertey said immediately they got to the 37 Military Hospital, Dr. Graham, the Chief Anesthetist and Dr. Nii Laryea worked intensively on his nephew.

"Because of the extensive injuries, the operation to remove the bullets lasted for eight hours", he added.

Unfortunately, the uncle said despite post-intensive care, Ayeh died on August 15, 2000 at about 4pm.

Meanwhile, expert examination of the bullets has revealed that they were from an AK47 gun.

The uncle has appealed to President Rawlings to help investigate the case.