Fourth policeman dies mysteriously in less than two months

On March 11, 2021, 1:05 AM

A 38-year-old police officer attached to the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) at the Police Headquarters has died mysteriously.

G/Sgt Timothy Jebuni is reported to have dropped dead at Awoshie Abrantie in the Ga Central Municipality in Accra.

A resident reported to the police at about 3 pm on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, that an unknown man was lying dead near a road in the area.

The Anyaa District police were deployed to the scene, where they found the deceased wearing a pair of black trousers and a red T-shirt.

The police deposited the body, which had no marks of violence, at the Police Hospital morgue for autopsy, preservation and identification.

Upon intelligence that the deceased may be a policeman, a search led personnel to Auntie Aku near Sowutuom, where the deceased lived.

His identity was then established as a cop with identification No. 41392.

Recent police deaths

The latest incident makes it four police deaths since January 30, attributed to unnatural causes.

While the other three were suicide cases, the recent one has been classified as “unnatural death” in police reports.

The Ghana Police Service has been concerned about the circumstances under which personnel were dying in recent months.

Three suicides within two weeks

It was reported that a 50-year-old cop stationed at the Ashiaman Court Unit had shot himself at his residence at Tema Community 18.

DSP Asiam Divine Yao died at the Police Hospital in the early hours of Sunday, February 14, 2021.

Two weeks before that incident, Constable Yelnona Eugene of the National Protection Unit shot himself in Accra on Monday, February 1, 2020.

An AK 47 assault rifle was found together with the body in a washroom of the Ridge residence where he was on guard duty.

The Ghana Police Service confirmed the death in a press statement issued by Director of Public Affairs, Sheilla Kessie Abayie-Buckman.

The release said Constable Yelnona “was found dead at his duty point with a gunshot wound”.

Reports indicate that the policeman was sick and had taken leave days for treatment.

On Friday, January 29, he reported seeking an extension of his leave to enable him to seek further medical attention.

However, he was denied the request.

Less than 48 hours before that incident, a senior officer did the same.

On Saturday, January 30, the District Commander of Half-Asini, Superintendent of Police (SP) Cyprian Zenge, allegedly committed suicide.

Mr Zenge is reported to have shot himself in the head at about 7 am.

This was the second time a police officer had committed suicide at Half Asini in less than two years.

He is believed to have snapped his own life with a pistol at his home.

A suicide note at the scene read:” I am fed up in this world”.

The deceased was found “sitting in a blue chair with a gunshot wound on his forehead”.