How father and son allegedly beat 31-year-old man to death over cocoa beans at Assin Akrofuom

The Assin South District Police Command has arrested a father and his son over the alleged killing of a 31-year-old man, Samuel Kofi Amankwa, at Assin Akrofuom in the Central Region.

The suspects, identified as Joseph Mensah and Anthony Mensah, are accused of assaulting Amankwa, popularly known as Kofi Marshie, following allegations that he had stolen half a bag of fresh cocoa beans.

Preliminary accounts suggest the incident may have been linked to an earlier dispute over allegations that Amankwa had stolen the suspects’ coconut seedlings.

Speaking to Citi News, the Asona Abusuapanin of Assin Akrofuom, Nana Kofi Ohemeng, alleged that the suspects went to the deceased’s room while he was asleep, forcibly dragged him outside and assaulted him.

“The deceased was asleep when the suspects forcibly entered his room, dragged him outside and assaulted him,” he said.

Nana Ohemeng added that the suspects allegedly traced Amankwa to his room, which was about 500 metres from the location where the assault occurred.

The deceased’s sister, Ama Bimpomaa, also alleged that her brother was tied to an electricity pole and severely beaten until he collapsed and died.

“They tied my brother to an electricity pole with a rope and subjected him to severe beatings until he collapsed and died,” she said.

She maintained that the attack was connected to the earlier accusations involving the alleged theft of the suspects’ coconut seedlings.

However, the Central North Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent Edmund Agyemang Badu, confirmed that the father and son had been arrested and were assisting police with investigations.

He said one of the suspects claimed in his caution statement that he confronted Amankwa after allegedly catching him stealing half a bag of fresh cocoa beans.

According to the Crime Officer, Joseph Mensah and his son reported themselves to the police after the incident, prompting officers to visit the scene.

“A team of police officers subsequently proceeded to the scene, where they found the deceased lying in a supine position near an electricity pole,” he said.

Police also retrieved a nylon rope suspected to have been used to tie the deceased to the pole.

Chief Supt. Agyemang Badu said an examination of the body revealed bruises on the deceased’s hands, eyebrows and waist, suggesting injuries consistent with an assault.

The body has since been deposited at the St. Francis Xavier Hospital morgue in Assin Fosu pending an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

The 2 suspects are facing provisional charges of murder and are expected to appear before the Assin Fosu District Court as investigations continue.

Police have cautioned residents against taking the law into their own hands, urging them to report suspected criminal activities and disputes to the appropriate security authorities.