Fire Works At Achimota District Court As Family Of Slain Soldier Invokes Curses And Sprays Ordinary Water At Suspected Killers Of Lance Corporal Michael Danso

THERE were fireworks at the premises of the District Court at Achimota in the Greater Accra Region as aggrieved family members of the slain soldier, Lance Corporal Michael Danso have involved curses and sprayed ordinary water at the two alleged suspected killers, Benlord Ababio aka Nana Barima Ababio and Nana Fifii.

Some family members, including the biological father of the deceased soldier, Mr Micheal Danso at the premises of the Court on Thursday May 16, 2024 invoked curses on individuals, particularly Kwesi Alhaji, Nana Barima Ababio and Nana Fifii they believe killed Lance Corporal Michael Danso. 

They poured ordinary water on the ground and called upon their deities and ancestors to deal with those involved and alleged to be operating under ‘orders from above’ to kill their beloved son.

They expressed their wish for their ancestors and the spirit of the deceased soldier to punish any lawyer who would be paid by the suspects to defend them in court, stressing the unbearable devastation caused by the murder.

The family members of the killed soldier
 have taken these bold actions when the two suspects have been reappeared before the court on Thursday May 16, 2024 for the second time for a trial of the charges preferred against them.

Benlord Ababio and Nana Fifii have been arrested and provisionally charged of murder for killing Lance Corporal Michael Danso on Tuesday April 30, 2024.

The suspects allegedly shot the late soldier who had gone to the Millennium City Police Station to report an incident of trespassing on a half plot of land which is a subject of litigation.

The two suspects, Benlord Ababio and Nana Fifii have both denied baile although their lawyers have requested the court to grand them bail.

However, when the two suppects who wore nose mark to cover their faces appeared before the court, their pleas were not taken but the court presided over by His Worship Prince Owusu, remanded them into the police custody to reappear on May 30, 2024.

This development follows a request by the police prosecutor for the two suspects to be remanded for further investigations.

According to the police prosecutor, these alleged suspected killers were not be given bail anyhow considering their personal lives and the very serious crime they have committed in the society.

Although they have had alleged to have  committed the murder, their lives are precious to them police and that based on these grounds, Benlord Ababio and Nana Fifii have denied bail and remanded into custody for two weeks by the Achimota District Court.

The prosecution’s brief fact indicates that the deceased, Lance Corporal Michael Danso, was a military officer stationed at the Army Base Workshop at Burma Camp.

The accused, Benlord Ababio alias Nana Barima Ababio is said to be a self-acclaimed traditional ruler at Kasoa.

The brief fact states that on April 30, 2024, at about 4pm, the deceased Lance Corporal Michael Danso together with his two colleagues–Lance Corporal Abdul Omar Rahman and Lance Corporal Ametus Matthew went to Millennium City Police Station on board a Toyota RAV4 with registration number 3591-24 to report a case of trespass.

It said this was upon information that some encroachers were developing a parcel of land belonging to Lance Corporal Abdul Omar Rahman.

The fact said the accused appeared at the police station, attacked, and opened fire severally on Lance Corporal Michael Danso, who was in charge of the steering wheel of the Toyota RAV 4×4 vehicle, killing him instantly.

It added that the accused was immediately disarmed and arrested, and was subsequently arraigned for the court to remand him pending further investigations.

Speaking in an interview with journalists, the head of the family of slain Soldier, Nana Yaw Boakye Ofori Atta noted that they have satisfied with the proceedings in court.

He added that although these are beginning of the case, they were full of satisfy with the professional way and manner the police prosecutor and presiding judge are handling this case in the court.

According to him,the Kwesi Kani family of the killed soldier at Kyebi in the Eastern Region are in deep pain for the untimely death their son.

"We are deep pain because any time we saw Benlord Ababio and Nana Fifii we are not happy for seeing them at all but this beginning of the trial of this case because we know that serious this murder case is are being tried at the lower court and that we are expecting that the high court would take the case up for the justice to prevail," Nana Yaw Boakye Ofori Atta

Mincing no words,  Nana Yaw Boakye Ofori Atta was quick to express disappoinment in the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare for showing little concerns about the death of their beloved late soldier.

For we the family members of the killed solder, we are so disappointed in the IGP, because we thought by now, the IGP should interdicted some senior police officers at Central East Police Headquarters at Millennium City,"Nana Yaw Boakye Ofori Atta angrily said 

He reiterated that alleged murderer, Benlord Ababio fired nine shots at Lance Corporal Michael Danso, resulting in his tragic death.

According to him, this heartbreaking  incident occurred near the Central East Regional Police Command in Millennium City, Gomoa Fetteh, Central Region, sparking panic and tension in the area but the IGP has taken any action punish police officers at the post before the incident occurred.

Aggrieved family member of Lance Corporal Michael Danso expressed disappointment in the police officers on duty at the Central East Regional Police Command before the tragic event unfolded on April 30, 2024.

He lamented the lack of courage displayed by the officers, who failed to rush to the scene and rescue Lance Corporal Michael Danso, a military officer stationed at the Army Base workshop in Burma Camp.

However, all parties, that is, the investigative and prosecutorial team of the Ghana Police Service, our respected court system, the Attorney General’s office, and even the penitentiaries where these criminals are incarcerated, should make sure that we atone for every drop of Michael’s blood, by ensuring that alleged slaughter happy thugs like Benlord Ababio are subjected to, not just the full rigours of the law, but also the expeditious delivery of it, so that the exhibition of such barbaric behaviour will never be occasioned again here, or anywhere in Ghana.

"We are saying there more suspects who have killed our beloved late solder are not yet arrested. We are stressing that the prime suspect, Alhaji Alhaji and one  Otoo who is special assistant to Kwesi Alhaji have to be arrested and prosecuted before the court because we have heard Kwesi Alhaji saying that this case is going to be fooled case,"  Mr Ofori Atta stated.

He expressed frustration that, despite many complaints, law enforcement agencies have failed to stop land guards from hurting people in land disputes.

He called on the Ghana Police Service, the Attorney General's office, and other law enforcement agencies to ensure that persons responsible for the crime, including Benlord Ababio and Kwesi Alhaji and their associates, are dealt with drastically to atone for the blood of the deceased.