I said goodbye to JB Danquah only to hear of his death in two hours – Driver

The driver of the late Abuakwa North legislator Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu has recounted an intriguing tale of how he received news of his master’s death in February 2016.

In court on Monday, Samuel Berko Sarkodie said he handed over the car keys and bid farewell to his boss, only to be awoken by news of his death around 1:30 am the next day.

“When we got home around 11:40 pm, I handed over the car keys to him, and I said goodbye. I came out of the house and walked away to search for a vehicle to go home.

“Upon getting home and taking my bath at about 1:30 am, just when I was about to sleep, I had a call from the home of the late JB; I was surprised because I was coming from there. I realized the call was from Jennifer, the housemaid.

“I asked her why she was calling, and she told me armed robbers had attacked the late JB. I then asked her about the whereabouts of the late JB, and she began crying.

“I dressed up to go there, but I couldn’t get a vehicle early enough. I only got a vehicle at 3:30 am. I saw a lot of people there when I arrived, and upon asking, the brother told me JB had killed him,” he narrated.

Sarkodie is the first prosecution witness, testifying in the case where two persons have been charged for the murder of his boss, late JB Danquah.

Daniel Asiedu, also known as Sexy Don Don, has been charged with murder while Vincent Bossu faces a charge of abetment — charges they have all denied.

Facts

The provisional facts of the prosecution were that the former MP lived with his family at Shiashie, near East Legon, a suburb of Accra.

The accused persons’ Daniel Asiedu and Vincent Bosso, lived at Agbogbloshie, also in Accra.

According to the prosecution, between February 8 and 9, 2016, the late legislator was chauffeured home in his private car.

The driver handed over the ignition keys of the car to Mr Danquah-Adu and left for home, after which the MP retired to bed in a room located on the first floor of his house.

On February 9, 2016, at about 1 am, Asiedu and Bosso, armed with a catapult, cutter and sharp knife, went to the legislator’s house.

Bosso is said to have assisted Asiedu to enter the house by scaling the wall on the blind side of a security man who was fast asleep.

On entering the house, Asiedu picked a ladder and climbed onto a porch on the top floor and entered the MP’s bedroom through a window while Mr Danquah-Adu was sleeping.

While Asiedu was searching the room, the MP woke up and held him. A struggle ensued during which Asiedu stabbed the MP in the right chest above the breast.

The MP consequently held the knife, and Asiedu pulled it through his hand, leaving a deep cut in his palm.

The legislator bled profusely and fell by his bed, after which Asiedu stabbed him several times in his right chest and neck.

On realising that the MP was dying, Asiedu left the room and took with him three iPhones and absconded with his accomplice.

Asiedu and Bosso have since been charged with murder and abetment of crime in the murder of the late MP.

They both pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit robbery. Asiedu, on the other hand, has pleaded not guilty to murder and robbery.

Four years after the gruesome murder of the former MP, justice is yet to be served in the case.

The case continues on April 27, 2021. Counsel for the accused persons’ Yaw Dankwa will further cross-examine the witness, Samuel Sarkodie.