Tears flow for justice as hundreds bid farewell to slain Ghanaian nurse

Hundreds of mourners gathered at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at Sewua in the Ashanti region to grieve the passing of Ruth Eshun.

The 37-year-old community health nurse was gruesomely murdered by unknown assailants at Ayuom, near Kumasi on February 3, 2020.

Mourners mostly drawn from the 13 nursing unions in Ghana were seen shedding tears as they filed past a white casket which contained the remains of their departed colleague.

Family and friends who thronged the Bosomtwe District town, poured out tributes amid singing of hymns at the solemn ceremony.

Armed police officers were also deployed to the grounds to prevent any eventuality. Representatives of other allied institutions in Ghana’s health sector were also present at the event.

President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives’ Association (GRNMA), urged government to prioritise the security of health workers, especially in remote areas.

“We are all very much dismayed about the whole issue that is happening. We are united in one voice and all that we are saying is we need justice. Today, we have a husband having to be a single parent to take of three children. We do not want this to happen again. We call on the government to also look at the bigger picture in terms of security. We need justice for Ruth and we need for justice for the profession as a whole”, she told reporters.

One person has been remanded into prison custody in connection with the incident.

Many others are being questioned as police pursue other suspects.

A social media campaign dubbed “#JusticeForRuthEshun” has also been launched to bring the perpetrators to book.

The deceased until her death was a community health worker at the Sewua Health Center.

She left behind a husband and three children.