Man dies in manhole

The body of a 40-year-old man, identified as Opoku, has been discovered in a manhole in an uncompleted private apartment at Latebiokoshie in Accra.

The body of Opoku, believed to be a drunk, was discovered yesterday morning after he went missing last Friday.

A resident, Emmanuel Kwame Soga, who spoke with DAILY GUIDE at the scene, said the deceased was last seen in the area last Friday afternoon heavily drunk and entering the compound of the uncompleted house, formerly occupied by his mother and other tenants.

“All the tenants living in the house were ejected months ago by the land owner after the old house was pulled down for the reconstruction of a new apartment,” Soga said.

Mr Soga disclosed that on that fateful day, workers were not at the site when Opoku visited the area.

“The body was discovered last Sunday evening, but there was nothing we could do that night than to wait till the following day,” he added.

Early yesterday morning, Mr Soga, who claimed he had lived in the area for some years, said the Kaneshie police were called to the scene but they later told them the area was under Korle-Bu, so they invited the Korle-Bu police to the scene.

“With the help of the Ghana National Fire Service, who were also at the scene, and the residents, the body was removed from the manhole which contained water.”

Meanwhile, when the paper contacted the Korle-Bu District Police Commander, DSP Peter Yembillah, he said they (police) were informed about the incident by Honourable Yakubu Abana Azoke, the Assembly Member for the area. He was quick to add that when the Korle-Bu police got to the scene, the Kaneshie police was already there, together with officials of the Ghana National Fire Service.

“When the body was finally removed from the uncompleted manhole, it was almost decomposed but it has been deposited at the Korle-Bu morgue for preservation while efforts are being made to contact the relatives,” he said.

He also disclosed that the owner of the uncompleted building has been invited to assist police in investigations.