Hairdresser remanded on provisional murder charge

Mpraeso (Eastern Region) 7 April '99

Mpraeso circuit court has remanded a 19-year-old hairdresser, Akua Badu in prison custody on a provisional charge of murdering two persons by poisoning. Prosecuting, Inspector Emmanuel Darteh told the court presided over by Mr Justice Charles Asiedu that one of the deceased, Diana Abena Pokua, had since the past two years, engaged Akua at her salon as a hairdresser at Oframase, near Ankoma in the Kwahu South district. On the 19th of last month, the deceased detected a theft from her provisions store attached to the salon. Suspecting Akua, she reported her conduct to her elder sister in the town asking her to advise Akua not to step into the salon again. On the 23rd of last month, Akua said she had been disgraced and therefore decided to punish the Pokua. She, therefore, bought 700 cedis worth of "Waakye with fish", mixed it with some poisonous chemical and gave it to a school boy to be given to Pokua as a gift from a well-known friend of hers. Inspector Darteh said Pokua, after eating the food with her apprentice, Akosua Korantemaa, they complained of abdominal pain and started vomiting. They were rushed to the Kwahu government hospital but were pronouced dead on arrival. He said the docket has been sent to the Attorney-General's office for advice.