German tourist stabbed at Coco Beach

A German tourist, Heike Stille, is in a state of shock after being repeatedly stabbed in the arm and neck by an unknown assailant at the Coco Beach in Accra on Sunday.

Her attacker, she claimed, pounced on her at the washroom of the beach resort and succeeded in assaulting her with a screw-driver.

Stille says she managed to save herself from further assault by fighting her attacker back, after he attempted to snatch her handbag, which contained MasterCard, Credit Card, phones and other valuables.

She added, “He stabbed me with the screw-driver severally in my arm and neck – thinking I was going to release my bag, which contained my MasterCard, Credit Card cards, keys, phones etc, but I wrestled with him; kicking him with my fist and legs.”

Stille who is a trained nurse said her military background helped her to resist further battering from her attacker, and shouted for help.

She said, “I have been a fan of Ghana since 2012; so, I don’t miss coming to
Ghana every year to enjoy the beautiful nature and to buy souvenirs. But my experience yesterday [Sunday] was scary; and it’s prompting me to have a rethink if I should still come back at all”.

Unpleasant Police Reception

She said the people that came around were able to help her with first aid, after which she went to Nungua Police Station to report the incident.

“My experience at the Police Station was nothing to write home about, as they showed no sympathy, neither did they care to know if I was in pain or feeling dizzy. They just passed me a paper to take to a Police hospital, where I received treatment,” she said.

“But I must say I was well received at the Police Hospital, where the wound was dressed, and I left for my house afterwards”.

Heike said she can’t wait to return to Germany to have her doctor take proper care of the wound, after which she would consider if Ghana is still worth visiting.

Advising her fellow tourists, she said “tourist who prefer to stay late at beaches must take care of themselves security-wise.”

Tourism in Ghana

According to a 2015 report published by Ghana News Agency, credited to Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare reveal that international arrivals and receipts grew by 10 per cent, rising from 993,600 in 2013 to an estimated 1,093, 000 in 2014, resulting in an increase from $1.9 billion to an estimated $2.1 billion and its contribution to GDP in 2014 was estimated to 4.7 per cent.

It stated further that the tourism sector, maintains fourth position as highest foreign exchange earner for Ghana after gold, cocoa and oil.

Tourism fetched Ghana $2.5 billion in 2012. In that year there were more tourist visits to the country than there were in 2014.

According to the Ghana Tourism Authority, 1,263,857 international tourists visited the country during that year.