Stephen Bernard Donkor: Will anything good come from Kasoa?

A child is certainly born innocent but the society teaches hate. Kasoa is gradually becoming unsafe for residents as issues of killings, kidnapping and other ills continue to reign supreme. Kasoa has gained notoriety in robbery and killings for some time now. So will anything good ever come from Kasoa? Maybe, another Saviour could be born there. Who knows? What do we expect as a nation when a whole body like the National Communications Authority (NCA) cannot control the activities of money-doubling and ritual money on our airwaves? My heart bleeds for the mother of the 10year old boy who was allegedly murdered in cold blood by two boys at Kasoa in the Awutu Senya East Municipality of the Central Region.

The society praises the rich without taking into consideration the source of their wealth. As a result, the youth are now of the view that making money at all cost is the way to go. If not, how will two young men get to the extent of eliminating young Ishmael? According to reports, the suspects revealed to the police after their arrest that a fetish priest in the Volta Region had asked them to bring a human body part for money. I humbly want to extend my deepest condolences to the mother of the deceased, Hajia Maame Sahadatu. Imagine, what this woman will be going through during a period where Muslims are fasting and praying. It is a sad development.

This reminds me of a pragmatic approach Former President Jerry John Rawlings of blessed memory took against murderers in Ghana during the revolution. I wouldn’t want to bore you with history but for the purposes of those who haven’t heard Kofi Kyinto’s murder story at Sehwi, let me take this opportunity to take you through briefly. Young Kofi Kyinto met his untimely death when he refused to attend a Sunday church service with his granny. Apparently, his uncle had promised to get him crabs and birds in the farm that fateful day. Weighing church and birds, innocent Kofi followed his uncle to the farm.

Kofi Kyinto was beheaded in the farm. Some men together with his uncle after the operation dumped his lifeless body. All effort by the granny to know the whereabouts of the grandson proved futile. However, luck eluded a member of the gang as he couldn’t meet a chief who had earlier promised to buy Kyinto’s head. With the head in a polythene bag, a man shouted soldier, come for the item for Nana. Immediately, the culprit heard the name soldier, he left the bag and took to his heels. This raised a bit of suspicion so the youth chased after the miscreant. Upon opening the booty, they discovered young Kyinto’s head. Those involved were apprehended and accordingly shot by armed Military men in their cemetery. Who said revolutionary days were entirely bad? Hell no!

It went a long way to deter others from engaging in this diabolic way of life. Anytime, our courts pronounce execution by hanging or firing squad, our Presidents do not sign. Hence miscreants enjoying their stay in the prison until God calls them. What am I saying? The love of money has taken centre stage in the lives of the youth. The Kasoa incident has come to the limelight. What about the numerous murder cases we continue to experience as a nation? Is there any mechanism that has been put in place to prevent future occurrences? It is early days now and I would humbly implore the Ghana Pollice Service to expedite investigations so that the family of the deceased will be at peace. I commend the Kasoa Police Command for preventing a possible lynching of the two suspects. A new Kasoa is what we need as a nation.

The author, Stephen Bernard Donkor won the African Journalist for Economic Opportunity Training (AJEOT-2018) Best Story of the Year and a GIJ Student.

Writer’s email: [email protected]