Girl, 18, dies in abortion bid

AN 18-year-old girl, Miss Pearl Blame from Akoefe, near Ho, died last Friday after taking an overdose of 20 Chloroquin tablets and a bottle of Guinness with the aim of terminating a month-old pregnancy.

Miss Blame was pronounced dead soon after arrival at the Ho Government Hospital at about 12 noon after being rushed there. The mixture was allegedly administered to her by the boyfriend, Kweku Atinco.

According to Assistant Superintendent of Police Fuseini Mahama, Atinco is on the run while 18-year-old Harriet Kahia Selorm, a school leaver and a friend of the deceased, has been granted bail.

Cephas Gbadegbe, a 20-year old carpenter and a friend of Miss Blame’s boyfriend who was also alleged to have played a part in administerng the mixture, is in police custody.

ASP Mahama said when the deceased informed her boyfriend that she was pregnant, he contacted Cephas for help to get rid of it but he declined.

He said Atinco met his friend for the second time and pleaded with him to assist.

According to him, Cephas, therefore, referred him to one Mr Emmanuel Attipoe, who prescribed a bottle of hot Guinness and two sachets of Chloroquin to be mixed for the girl.

ASP Mahama said Harriet showed interest in the plan to abort the pregnancy when approached the second time. Consequently the mixture was administered on the deceased in her boyfriend’s room.

He said after taking it, the deceased lay on the bed of her boyfriend, together with Harriet, until she started complaining of abdominal pains, adding that although Cephas was informed of the developments, he ignored them and said it was a minor effect of the Guinness.

ASP Mahama said it was when the deceased started vomiting that they realised things were getting out of hand.

Harriet and Cephas, sensing danger, then hired a taxi and rushed the deceased to the Miracle Life Clinic at Ho, from where they were referred to the Ho Government Hospital, but Miss Blame was pronounced dead on arrival.