Farmer remanded for murder

Nsuta (Ash), Aug. 16, GNA - A Circuit Court at Nsuta has remanded Akwasi Nkrumah, a 55-year-old farmer at Asuofo near Nsuta in the Sekyere West District of Ashanti, in prison custody for allegedly murdering Kwasi Nartey, a 25-year-old palm wine taper. The suspect's plea was not taken and he would re-appear on Wednesday, August 25, while Akwasi Akuoko, an accomplice, was granted police enquiry bail.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Arzah, Mampong Divisional Crime Officer, who briefed the Ghana News Agency on the case at the weekend, said on August 2, 2004, Nkrumah, Akuoko and the deceased who were friends went to hunt for game at Aboye. He said the accused and Akuoko with a single barrel gun each and the deceased with a catapult went to different parts of the bush. ASP Arzah said a few minutes later, Nkrumah observed that there was an unusual movement at a spot and thinking that it was an animal, he fired at that direction.

The prosecutor said the suspect realised that instead of an animal, he had killed Nartey and drew the attention of Akuoko about the tragedy.

ASP Arzah said Nkrumah and Akuoko informed Nana Kwasi Danquah, the Odikro of Nkuguwa village about the incident and he accompanied them to the Police at Beposo to report the case. ASP Arzah said the Police had conveyed the corpse to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi for autopsy while investigations continued.