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08.08.2011 Tragedy

Kokonte Kills 4

By Daily Guide
KonkonteKonkonte
08.08.2011 LISTEN

FOUR PERSONS have died after they reportedly consumed some poisonous substance which they believed was 'Kokonte.'

Four others are also in a critical condition at the Sunyani Regional Hospital.

So far, James Obuor, believed to be in his mid 50s, Rosina Ferkaa, 51 and Solomon Nimo, 23, father, mother and son, respectively have died from the supposed food poison.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that another child who came from a different house to eat some of the Kokonte also died, bringing the death toll to four.

Their death was confirmed by hospital authorities.

The first daughter of the deceased, Ruth Twenewaa, 30 and her younger brother, Abraham Ferkaa, 15, and two others, Auntie Adomaa and her son Philip Dabie, are on admission at the Sunyani Regional Hospital.

All the victims are said to be occupants of the same house at Mayera, near Sampa in the Jaman North District of the Brong Ahafo Region.

The assembly member for Mayera Electoral Area, Emmanuel Kwasi Amankwaah, told DAILY GUIDE that fear had gripped residents since nobody could actually tell what caused the deaths.

Mr. Amankwaah said the police had started investigations into the matter to unravel the mystery behind the bizarre incident.

Reports say the family members ate the food on Tuesday night but started experiencing some uneasiness on their return from the farm on Wednesday.

The assembly member mentioned that the father, who was first to complain of stomach pains, and collapsed later, was rushed to the Sampa Government Hospital on Wednesday but died on Friday.

According to him, the wife, two of their children and a tenant and her son who also started complaining of severe stomach pains on Thursday, were also rushed to the same hospital.

He said they were later referred to the Sunyani Regional Hospital when their conditions worsened.

The assemblyman said the son passed away on Saturday dawn, followed by the mother who died later in the morning.

The bodies of the mother and son have been deposited at the Sunyani Regional Hospital morgue, whilst that of the father is at the Sampa Hospital Morgue.

Meanwhile, DAILY GUIDE 's sources at the regional hospital have confirmed that the family died of food poison.

DAILY GUIDE was told that a brownish fluid believed to be poison was drained from one of the victims.

From Fred Tettey Alarti-Amoako, Sunyani

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