Family appeals to IGP to intervene in murder case

Benekrom (B/A), Aug. 14, GNA - The family of Adinkra Kwadwo Alexander, a 27-year-old Ghanaian from Benekrom in the Dormaa District of Brong Ahafo, who was allegedly stabbed to death in July this year, by his uncle at Abobo, a suburb of Abidjan in La Cote d'Ivoire has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to personally intervene and bring the suspect to justice.

Launching the appeal through the press at Benekrom, the family's spokesman and uncle of the deceased person, Kwasi Kwabena Nketiah stressed that, what worries them most in the murder case was that the suspect, Kwasi Thomas alias "Aleele", 26, has since ran back to Ghana and there is every proof that he has begun arrangements to settle at Kofi-Badukrom, near Dormaa-Ahenkro, where he moves about freely as though there is nothing at stake.

Narrating what led to the incident on July 24, 2005, Mr Nketia indicated that Kwasi Thomas, cobbler in Abidjan offered and took Alexander to Abidjan, where he trained him to mend footwear. According to him Alexander chose to stay with his master even after his apprenticeship but things suddenly turned sour, when Kwasi Thomas claimed that his nephew has picked his eight thousand CFA, an allegation the latter denied vehemently.

Mr Nketiah said Kwasi Thomas at this juncture arranged with bandits, who ambushed and pummelled his nephew mercilessly, resulting in his admission to the Dormaa Presbyterian Hospital for days. He said when Alexander recovered, the family from Benekrom in Ghana and Nkunsa in Cote d'Ivoire met to settle the feud between the two but failed to do so, as Thomas refused to compromise and vowed to teach his nephew a memorable lesson.

According to Mr Nketia, the deceased went back to Abidjan and on July 24 this year, he and his uncle met at a food joint, where Kwasi Thomas, who vowed to teach him a lesson began skirmishes, which led to hot exchanges of words between the two.

He said the argument grew to the extent that the food seller had no option than to expel them from the bar.

He alleged that, while in the open the suspect pulled a knife and stabbed the deceased on the right arm and the head, killing him instantly.

The family spokesman said before one could say Jack Robinson, Kwasi Thomas bolted to Benekrom in Ghana, thinking that was enough move to escape the rigours of the law.

He said in the process, a Ghanaian, who returned from Abidjan a few days after the incident spotted the suspect loitering in Benekrom and quickly arranged for his arrest for the Dormaa Police. Mr Nketia said the family was however shocked to realize after the interment of Alexander's mortal remains that Kwasi Thomas was walking freely in Kofi-Badukrom, where he has begun putting up a store ostensibly to settle down.

According to him the family has followed events closely and is convinced that the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspect is the surest way to avoid any reprisals hence, their appeal to the IGP and the government of Ghana.

Meanwhile, the Dormaa Police has confirmed the civil arrest but explained that the suspect was later handed back to those, who brought him to the police since the incident occurred outside their area of jurisdiction, adding that, the Ivorian police were better placed to handle the case.