Man severes own penis

The circumstance that led to a 28-year-old man severing his own manhood, which nearly caused his death, continues to remain a mystery to residents of Old Tafo, a suburb of Kumasi.

Residents of Tafo were filled with fear and trepidation when one Kwaku Abraham, a resident of Kona, in the Ashanti Region, was last Sunday morning found in a pool of blood with his severed manhood lying beside him.

News of the horrific self-inflicted incident, which gripped many residents in the area, was discovered by some media men, including the News Editor of Kumasi-based Kapital FM, Mr. Erastus Asare Donkor, and relatives of the victim, who quickly rushed him to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.

Narrating the incident to The Chronicle, Mr. Asare Donkor, who has followed the bizarre story ever since it occurred, said the victim told him in an interview that prior to the incident, he was forced to severe his manhood upon hearing 'voices' that consistently told him he had killed three people, including a deity, and that he was afraid to go to jail.

According to the victim, he was also gripped by feelings of hopelessness, grief, realities of poverty and sadness, and could not control himself. Family members also said Kwaku Abraham was behaving strangely, moving around the house and talking to himself.

An elder brother of the victim, who is also a pastor, told the Kumasi-based radio station that he suspected his brother's strange behaviour was spiritual, and even invited him to church that very day, but he refused, only to discover later" that his brother had severed his manhood with a razor blade.

Meanwhile, the victim is reportedly responding to treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where doctors working on him are considering surgery to reconstruct his severed manhood failure of which an artificial implant would be performed.

A Urologist Consultant, Dr Ken Aboah, who is leading the team of experts to conduct the surgery, said all hopes were not lost, adding that it is possible the victim can get an erection and be able to reproduce after the surgery.

Dr. Aboah said he suspected the victim was suffering from schizophrenia, a mental disorder characterized by abnormalities in the perception or expression of reality.

The victim has, meanwhile, pleaded for forgiveness from his family and the government for the despicable act and has declared his readiness to serve the state as punishment upon full recovery and subsequent discharge.