Police have arrested a 23-year-old palm wine tapper, Kwaku Prince, popularly known as ‘On God’, for allegedly setting the house of his supposed girlfriend on fire, killing the young girl, her sister and their mother at Subri Nkwanta in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region.
The incident, which is said to have shocked the town folks, occurred after the suspect allegedly followed through with a threat of burning down the house if the family did not allow him marry the young girl.
Adom News reported that a relative of the victims, Paulina Tweneboah Koduah, said she received a distress call from family members indicating that the suspect had stormed their home in search of his supposed girlfriend, 19-year-old Benedicta Kudjo Felicia, a student of Queen Senior High School.
According to the report, the family had previously warned the suspect to stay away from their home because the young girl was still in school and they did not approve of the relationship.
The warnings however, fell on deaf ears as the suspect reportedly insisted on loving the young girl and allegedly vowed to set the house on fire if they denied him the opportunity to marry her.
The report further indicated that Koduah later received another call informing her that the suspect had allegedly followed through with his threat and set the house on fire.
The 19-year-old was rushed to the Bibiani Government Hospital where she succumbed to the severe burns suffered as a result of the fire.
Her mother, 60-year-old Mary Andoh, also died at the Anhwiaso Community Hospital, while a third victim, 22-year-old Dora Adoma Kudjo, who had been transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for further treatment, also died from the resultant injuries.
Kwaku Prince is currently in police custody assisting with investigations. Meanwhile, the family of the deceased as well as community leaders have appealed to authorities to ensure justice prevails.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak