Gunshots at funeral; 9-year-old girl paralysed

Doctors at the Koforidua general Hospital in the Eastern region say a nine-year-old girl, Victoria Chartey, who was part of 15 victims who suffered gunshot wounds at a funeral in Nsuapemso over the weekend in the Fanteakwa District may be paralyzed forever.

Dr. Amponsah Manu disclosed that a bullet is suspected to have entered the spine of Victoria which could make her paralyzed for life since the bullet cannot be removed.

15 mourners sustained gunshot wounds during a vigil of the late Kwabena Gyeke, 38, a hunter who fell into a mining pit and died, at Nsuapemso near Akyem Nsutam in the Fanteakwa District of the Eastern region last Friday.

The incident occurred when scores of hunters thronged the funeral ground to perform a symbolic shooting display to bid their dead colleague hunter farewell, but one of the hunters, Isaac Tetteh mistakenly shot into the mourners injuring 15.

The victims were referred to the Koforidua regional hospital where 13 of them were treated and discharged.

However, a 31-year-old woman, Grace Yeboah, is still on admission at the regional hospital responding to treatment.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Ms. Mavis Ama Frimpong on Monday visited the two victims who are still on admission at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Police have arrested Isaac Tetteh, the hunter who mistakenly shot into the mourners causing the sad incident.

The minister in a related development, paid Ghc1, 600 for the nine-year-old Vivian Ofori, a resident of Apenkwa in the New Juaben Municipality whose parents have failed to foot his hospital bills hence confined.