Emmanuel Fugah
DAILY GUIDE has gathered that residents of Apremdo, the host community of the Second Battalion of Infantry, near Takoradi, are still in shock over the death of a naval officer and the wife of a military officer under bizarre circumstances.
The two persons allegedly met their untimely death after purportedly consuming some locally manufactured alcoholic drink known as ‘Mahogany bitters’ ‘Ogogoro’ or commonly called ‘akpeteshie.’
The deceased purportedly purchased the drink from a popular drinking bar in the vicinity.
“The navy man collapsed immediately after consuming the drink and was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. The wife of the military officer also died under a similar circumstance,” a resident told DAILY GUIDE.
The people also alleged that the youth in the area are fond of consuming the said Mahogany bitters, as they claim the drink has some properties which boost their systems and also enhances their sexual performance.
They, however, asserted that someone with an agenda might have poisoned the drink since Mahogany bitters had been a popular drink without any side effects over the years.
According to sources, the Naval Officer and Leading Seaman, Emmanuel Fugah, went to the popular drinking spot to consume tots of the bitters before he went home to eat the meal he had prepared.
DAILY GUIDE learnt that a few minutes after that, the military man allegedly became weak and was attended to by some persons around, but gave up the ghost while being conveyed to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi.
A few minutes after the incident, the wife of a military officer, who had also consumed the same Mahogany bitters, died.
Three other men who also drank the substance were said to have been rushed to the hospital, where their systems were flushed by doctors.
The bodies of the two have been deposited at the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital pending autopsy.
Information gathered indicated that following the deaths, the army authorities had closed all eateries and drinking spots around the military barracks at Apremdo until further notice.
The police had also seized the remaining bottles of Mahogany bitters which were on sale and are keeping them for investigations.
Confirming the story to DAILY GUIDE, Supt Kwadwo Nkansah, Kwesimintsim District Police Commander, revealed that both the bar owner and the keeper are currently in police grips to assist in investigations.
He pointed out that samples of the drink had also been taken by the police for testing.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi