It is horrifying. It is shocking. It is dreadful. But despite society’s outrage at such cowardly acts, spousal murders or killings do not appear to be going away anytime soon.
Several cases of spousal killings have been reported since the beginning of this year, 2023 and the question is: What would make a relationship that was once full of love and life, suddenly turn sour and end on a bitter and cruel note?
In this article, The Ghana Report recounts some cases of spousal murders that sent shockwaves across the country.
Jilted Lover Allegedly Murders Girlfriend
A jilted lover allegedly killed his girlfriend at Trom, a suburb of Koforidua in the Eastern region.
The tragic incident happened on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Junction 5 in the Trom community.
According to reports, the victim had been in the process of ending the relationship, which led her to relocate to her current residence.
Sources suggest that the suspect visited the girlfriend’s home during a naming ceremony. The girlfriend subsequently invited him to her room, since the programme was at the same venue.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect allegedly engaged in a struggle with the victim, forcibly silencing her by placing a cloth in her mouth before slitting her throat.
Amidst the noise from the ongoing naming ceremony, the victim’s cries for help seemingly went unnoticed.
The knife used in the gruesome act was later discarded by the suspect in a nearby bush behind the house before making a clandestine exit.
Filled with guilt and remorse, the suspect later turned himself in to the police.
Trotro Driver Allegedly Poisons His Fiancée And Attempts Suicide
In May 2023, a 35-year-old man identified as Akwasi allegedly killed his fiancee, 25-year-old Martha after she paid him a visit at Atwima Agogo Copas in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipal of the Ashanti Region.
Akwasi, a trotro driver, reportedly poisoned Martha, a seamstress.
According to the report, after Martha visited her fiancee, Akwasi called his mate and told him the lady had visited him after several disagreements.
The driver then handed Martha the phone and told her to speak with his mate.
Martha informed them that she would not be staying overnight because she had to return home.
The driver then grabbed her phone and told her she couldn’t go home.
Close sources revealed that after Martha’s demise, her family was called and informed that the house she visited had burned down, but when they arrived, they realized it was false and learned that their daughter had died.
Afterward, the trotro driver was also discovered in his room foaming at the mouth in an apparent suicide attempt and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
According to reports, the driver was depressed because his fiancee was not treating him well and had threatened to end the relationship.
It is suspected that Akwasi poisoned a drink he gave to Martha and drank some himself.
Man Allegedly Kills Pregnant Girlfriend And Son
On May 27, 2023, a 28-year-old man Isaac Kwadwo Nyarko, allegedly killed his 27-year-old girlfriend and her 7-year-old son at Anwiankwanta- Poano in the Ashanti Region.
According to reports, some community members made a missing person report to the Anwiankwata police three days after failing to locate the woman and her son.
During a search for the two, the police discovered their bodies in the only room in their house after forcefully breaking the door.
The police later located Kwadwo Nyarko at Kwamankese near Mankessim in the Central Region after they mounted a search for him.
He reportedly admitted to killing the two after he was brought in for questioning.
Information gathered indicates that the suspect blamed his actions on the constant nagging of the deceased girlfriend.
He reportedly spiked her yogurt with an unknown substance to weaken her.
When she became helpless, he allegedly decapitated her with a sharp cutlass.
In his attempt to run, he slipped and fell, which caused the 7-year-old son to wake up from sleep.
Afraid the boy would testify against him, he also decapitated him.
25-Year-Old Lady Killed By Boyfriend Over Whatsapp Status
In May 2023, a 25-year-old lady, Victoria Tetteh, was killed by her boyfriend at Dunkwa Mfoum over a WhatsApp status post.
According to sources, the 25-year-old hairdresser was attacked by her boyfriend, Dominic, after he saw another man’s picture on her mobile phone.
Information gathered reveals that Dominic bought a phone for Victoria, and the next day, he saw photos of Victoria with another man on it.
This led to a misunderstanding between the two, resulting in Victoria relocating to her sister’s house.
But Dominic followed his lover to her sister’s house at Dunkwa Mfoum, where a fight broke out between the two again.
The sister of the deceased then hurriedly stepped outside to call for assistance to separate them, only to come back to see that the suspect had used a construction brick to hit her sister on the head, killing her instantly.
Dominic reportedly ran away from the scene and went into hiding.
A report was made to the police, who arrived at the crime scene to convey the body to the Dunkwa Government Hospital morgue.
26-year-old woman shot dead at Adum
On April 20, 2023, a 26-year-old woman, Victoria Dapaah, popularly known as Maa Adwoa was shot and killed by her police inspector boyfriend, at Adum in Kumasi on suspicion of cheating.
The police launched a manhunt for Twumasi and eventually arrested him in Sekyere.
Some eyewitnesses heard the deceased begging the police inspector not to kill her and that she has not cheated on him.
The eyewitnesses say Twumasi still went ahead and shot her multiple times.
The mother of the deceased, Adwoa Nyarko said her daughter went out to see the young man after receiving a phone call.
Maa Adwoa’s family has since called for justice to be served in the matter.
Husband Allegedly Butchers Wife For Filing For A Divorce
On April 28, 2023, a 25-year-old lady identified as Eunice Armeh Narh was butchered by her husband, Isaac Newton Kumah in Nungua, a suburb of Accra for filing for divorce.
According to the family, the couple had been married for 4 years with two children, a 3-year-old son and a one and half-year-old daughter.
It is reported that, not long after the marriage, Eunice discovered that her husband is a serial cheat and a womanizer also.
It is alleged that before Eunice filed for divorce from her violent husband, she had suffered a series of physical and mental abuse.
She then moved into the residence of her stepfather with the children following years of domestic abuse by her husband, Isaac Newton Kumah.
The husband who was unhappy with the situation seized and took custody of their 3-year-old son but consistently left him in the care of others.
But her husband realizing that the marriage was about hitting the rocks promised to change for the better but he never did and as a result, Eunice decided to call the marriage a quit.
The alleged culprit inflicted machete wounds on the 25-year-old who attempted to serve him with a letter from legal aid to take custody of their 3-year-old son.
The culprit has since been arraigned before the court.
Visually Impaired Man Allegedly Kills Wife For Seeking Divorce
In March 2023, a 71-year-old visually impaired man allegedly killed his wife at Abepotia near Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
According to reports, the man, identified as George Mudor, butchered his wife at dawn while she was sleeping and confessed to one of his daughters in the morning.
The victim, Grace, who is believed to be in her late sixties allegedly asked her husband for a divorce.
The request did not go down well with Mudor, who snapped and committed the crime.
An eyewitness who discovered the body said that the victim had deep cuts to her neck and face.
After the discovery, he, together with the victim’s children reported the incident to the police.
Meanwhile, the Assembly Member of the area revealed that the couple had lived in harmony for years until recent disagreements changed the dynamics of their home.
He said the victim, who was allegedly fed up with taking care of her husband, is said to have considered divorce as a result.
Some co-tenants who also spoke to journalists, however, believe it is a premeditated murder as the suspect had allegedly threatened his wife’s life on a number of occasions.
They added that they took the threats lightly due to his condition.
The suspect has been under police arrest.