COP Lydia Yaako Donkor
The murder suspect of Joyce Akua Ampomaa, a 40-year-old trader from Akweley, Kasoa, whose mutilated body was discovered at Awutu Bentum near Jei Krodua in the Central Region, has been arrested by the Homicide Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The arrest was made following a complaint made by the Asafoatse of Awutu Bentum on March 10, 2026, to the Jei Krodua Police Station that the mutilated body of an adult female had been found in a bush on the outskirts of the town.
Addressing journalists at the CID Headquarters, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor said police proceeded to the scene and discovered the body with the head and both legs severed. The remains were conveyed to the Police Hospital Mortuary for preservation and autopsy, after which the deceased was identified as Joyce Akua Ampomaa.
Upon investigations, it was established that the deceased had previously sought herbal treatment from the suspect in 2025 for a swollen leg condition. On March 4, 2026, she reportedly visited him again for spiritual assistance to protect her business.
“After consultations at his shrine, the suspect allegedly lured her into a nearby bush under the pretext of collecting herbs, where he attacked her from behind with a cutlass, killed her, dismembered the body, and concealed the remains in the bush before taking parts away,” she revealed.
COP Yaako Donkor further indicated that the suspect upon interrogation admitted to the offence and disclosed that he had buried the deceased’s head at Mafi Avedo in the Volta Region and the legs at his residence at Awutu Bentum.
The suspect was put before the Adabraka District Court on March 13, 2026 and remanded into police custody. The court subsequently granted a motion ex parte for an exhumation order to enable the police to retrieve the buried body parts.
On March 17, 2026, the suspect led the police to Mafi Avedo in the Volta Region, where the deceased’s head was exhumed and deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary. On March 18, 2026, the suspect led police to Awutu Bentum, where the crime occurred, for incident reconstruction. He also showed them where he buried the victim’s legs and disposed of her destroyed mobile phones.
COP Yaako Donkor said at the crime scene, located approximately 0.5 kilometres from Awutu Bentum on a cassava farm, the suspect identified the exact spot where he attacked the deceased, where he deposited the body and a pit where he claimed to have buried bloodstained items.
“Police observed disturbed vegetation at the scene, consistent with the disposal of the body. The suspect further led the police to his residence, located opposite the Chief’s Palace, where the legs of the deceased were exhumed by a pathologist,” she disclosed.
COP Yaako Donkor said the destroyed mobile phones were also retrieved from a nearby bush and a latrine. Police investigations revealed that members of the community had demolished the suspect’s residence and shrine following the incident, thereby affecting the retrieval of the suspected murder weapon and other exhibits.
“All recovered body parts have since been deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary for preservation and autopsy, while investigations continue,” she added.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke