A Ho High Court presided over by Justice Yaw Acheampong sentenced three individuals to death by hanging for the ritual murder of a twelve year old boy. The MyJoyOnline report identified the convicted persons as Kofi Kunya and two accomplices who were found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and murder. The proceedings concluded on October 24 2024 following a trial that tracked events dating back to the year 2021.
The victim specifically identified as Shadrach Arhin went missing in Kpando Agbenoxoe within the Volta Region. According to a GhanaWeb report police investigations led to the discovery of the remains of the victim in a shallow grave located on the property of one of the suspects. The prosecution presented evidence suggesting the act was intended for ritual purposes to gain spiritual wealth as noted in court documents reviewed by local journalists.
Official statements from the Ghana Police Service during the initial arrest phase stated that the suspects confessed to lured the boy into a room before the act occurred. The Daily Graphic report indicated that the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict after assessing the forensic evidence and witness testimonies provided by the state. This case represents one of the few instances where a death sentence has been issued since the legal reforms regarding capital punishment in Ghana.
Legal experts speaking to Citi Newsroom noted that while the death penalty remains on the statute books for certain crimes actual executions have not been carried out in decades. The convicts are expected to be held at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison. The court expressed that the severity of the sentence reflects the gravity of the crime committed against a minor in the Kpando community.