Horror in Tamale As Soldier Guns Down Colleague

Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)

Edmond Gyebi
Tamale

Serious calamity has befallen the 6th Battalion Infantry (6BN) in Tamale of the Ghana Armed Forces, as one Corporal Kwadwo Kwakye has allegedly gunned down his colleague, Sergeant Stanley Afriyie over a long dispute involving a sum of two million cedis debt.

The wife and 16 year old daughter of the deceased Sgt Afriyie, Madam Monica Afriyie and Hannah Afriyie respectively were also shot in the process by Corporal Kwakye. The wife and the daughter though they survived the bullets; are now in critical condition. They were flown to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra for proper treatment after receiving some initial treatment from the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

Reliable sources close to the Tamale Military Barracks hinted The Chronicle that the late Stanley Afriyie borrowed an amount of 2 million cedis from his friend Corporal Kwakye some years ago to enable him settle some critical family problems. Several attempts were allegedly made by the suspected murderer to claim his money but the deceased was somehow reluctant to pay. Constant live threats were allegedly issued by the suspect, yet nothing was achieved until recently when the deceased, Sgt Afriyie, embarked on a peacekeeping operation in Lebanon without offsetting the debt. The Chronicle was told that in his absence, the suspect, Corporal Kwakye managed to dip his hand into the salary accounts of the late Stanley Afriyie and withdrew an amount of about 1.6 million cedis.

The wife of the deceased Monica Afriyie who eventually detected the anomaly reported to the husband on phone who suspected Corporal Kwakye to be behind it. After the return of the late Sergeant, he (Kwakye) allegedly admitted withdrawing the money and still demanded for an interest of 5 million cedis on the debt.

The deceased according to our sources accepted to pay the interest but pleaded with him (Kwakye) to allow him some time to offload his goods. However, on Tuesday night around 9:30pm Corporal Kwaakye reportedly stormed the residence of the late Sergeant fully armed with a loaded G3 gun and subsequently fired him twice in the chest, after an alleged short argument. The strange sound forced the wife to enter the room but was also shot in the upper hand and another shot in the thigh after trying to escape after the first shot. On the other hand, the 16 year old daughter Hannah Afriyie who started screaming for help was also shot on the buttocks penetrating into her private part.

Sensing danger, the suspected murderer Corporal Kwadwo Kwaakye immediately took to the bush, but was reportedly apprehended and detained by a Military Search Team during the early hours of Wednesday, November 28, 2007.

The Chronicle was able to visit the Tamale Teaching Hospital mortuary to confirm the death of the Sergeant as well as the wife and daughter who were also receiving treatment at the second floor of the same hospital. Several efforts by The Chronicle to enter the barracks were prevented by the men. However, the Chairman of the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC), Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris when contacted said he was yet to receive official information on the matter. The Northern Regional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, COP Ephram Oko Brakatu in an interview also said his men were ready to investigate the matter if it is handed over to the police. The Police Commander and the REGSEC Chairman though declined to comment further on the issue due to lack of information. However, they did not deny it.

The Commanding Officer of the 6th Battalion Infantry (6BN), Lt Col Omane Agyekum who was quite difficult to contact, later confirmed the report and disclosed to The Chronicle that the murder suspect, Corporal Kwadwo Kwaakye had been handed over to the police for investigation, whilst the wife and the daughter of the deceased had been flown to Accra for better treatment at the 37 Military Hospital.