Assin Akrofuom: Father, son arrested over alleged killing of 31-year-old man

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

Amankwa, locally known as Kofi Marshie, was allegedly beaten to death after being accused of stealing a half bag of fresh cocoa beans, although preliminary accounts suggest that the incident may have been linked to earlier allegations of theft involving the deceased.

The suspects had reportedly accused Amankwa of stealing their coconut seedlings on a previous occasion and subsequently suspected him of attempting to steal fresh cocoa beans.

Speaking to Citi  News, the Asona Abusuapanin of Assin Akrofuom, Nana Kofi Ohemeng, alleged that “the deceased was asleep when the suspects forcibly entered his room, dragged him outside and assaulted him.”

He said the suspects had allegedly traced Amankwa to his room, which was about 500 metres from where the assault took place.

The deceased’s sister, Ama Bimpomaa, also alleged that “they tied my brother to an electricity pole with a rope and subjected him to severe beatings until he collapsed and died.”

She maintained that the attack was linked to earlier allegations that Amankwa had stolen the suspects’ coconut seedlings.

However, the Central North Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent Edmund Agyemang Badu, confirmed that the two suspects have been arrested and were in police custody assisting with investigations into the incident.

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.

Chief Supt. Agyemang Badu disclosed that Joseph Mensah and his son, Anthony Mensah, reported themselves to the police following the incident.

“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.

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

According to the Crime Officer, a further examination of the body revealed bruises on the deceased’s hands, eyebrows and waist, findings which suggested that he had sustained injuries consistent with an assault.

The body has since been conveyed to the St. Francis Xavier Hospital Morgue in Assin Fosu and deposited pending an autopsy to establish the exact cause of death.

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

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