Kayayoo Dies In Street Brawl

A female head porter (kayayoo) at the Kejetia Lorry Terminal in Kumasi lost her life when a colleague slapped her face during a street fight over a mobile phone.

The 20-year-old girl allegedly became unconscious and started foaming from the mouth; she was pronounced dead on arrival at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

She was only identified as Sharifa. The incident happened last Saturday, June 20, 2009 at about 8:30am.

Chief Inspector Remmy Tinati, Station Officer of the Kejetia Police Station, said the suspect, Yaa Abrafi, 19, has since been placed in custody at the Police Station whilst investigations continued.

Information gathered by the police was that the two porters were friends, and that it was the suspect (Yaa Abrafi) who brought the deceased (Sharifa) to the Kejetia Terminal for them to work together.

The Mirror also learnt that both the deceased and the suspect hailed from the Northern Region. Though the suspect’s mother was from Swedru, her father was a northerner.

On that fateful day, the source said an argument ensued between the two at the lorry terminal over a mobile phone the deceased was holding.

According to the police, the mobile phone was said to belong to a certain young man, who the police were yet to identify and contact to establish the circumstances under which the phone came to be in the custody of the deceased.

Yaa was said to have approached Sharifa and complained about the latter’s decision to hold on to the mobile phone for a long time without releasing it to the owner.

That did not go down well with Sharifa, who accused Yaa of informing the young man that the phone was with her.

According to the source, a brief quarrel ensued between the two, but someone intervened and calmed down tempers.

Whilst the two were moving away, Sharifa was said to have invoked curses on Yaa, who reacted by also invoking curses on Sharifa. This resulted in exchange of blows.

The police said before the young man, who initially intervened in the quarrel could make any move, Yaa was said to have given Sharifa a slap across her face, which resulted in her death.

Chief Inspector Tinati said Sharifa was rushed to KATH, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

He said the case was later reported to the police for the body to be carried to the morgue, while Yaa was apprehended and placed in custody at the Ridge Police Station for investigations.

According to the police officer, the docket has since been sent to the Regional Police CID, whilst efforts were underway to get in touch with the parents of Sharifa and Yaa.