Rivalries appear in court for the murder of Joana

Sekondi March 04, GNA - Thomas Kwame Eshun, an employee of Ghana Telecom stationed at Cantonments, Accra and Anthony Yaakwesi Ansah, a teacher and a student of the University of Cape Coast, were on Thursday arraigned before a Sekondi District Magistrate's Court for allegedly murdering Joana Cudjoe.

The court remanded Eshun, 55, and granted Ansah, 49, a 50 million cedis' bail.

Both are to re-appear on March 17 this year.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Joe Hedidor, said Ansah and the deceased were married for 24 years and had six children who lived with them at Egyam, their hometown.

He said Eshun claimed the deceased was his girlfriend from 1975 to 1978 before her marriage to Ansah.

Chief Inspector Hedidor said on February 19 Eshun, accompanied by his nephew, Eric Yeboah, attended a funeral at Mpaniasa. On their way back from the funeral, Eshun and Yeboah visited the deceased at her matrimonial home at Egyam. Chief Inspector Hedidor said when Ansah came home, the deceased introduced Eshun and Yeboah as friends.

He said after the introduction, Ansah told the deceased he was going to Ampotano where he had a drinking spot and another wife. Eshun took advantage of the absence of Ansah and invited the deceased to his home at Kejebil, about eight kilometres away from Egyam. Chief Inspector Hedidor said according to Eshun, while they were in bed an unknown assailant forcibly entered the room and killed the woman. He said Eshun carried the deceased outside and raised alarm and lodged a complaint at the Kwesimintsim Police Station. He said Police investigations revealed that the deceased was killed on Eshun's bed and he carried the body outside.

Chief Inspector Hedidor said Eshun was therefore arrested together with Ansah but investigations revealed that at the time the deceased was killed, Ansah was with his third wife at Ampotano, a distance of about 11 kilometres from Kejebil.