|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
One person has died while four others are in critical condition after
drinking a local gin, popularly known as akpeteshie.
The deceased, Ogbolor, 32 and three others, were offered the drink by
one of the victims, Maame Akosua, after they had helped her in
gathering firewood for her business at Gambia Village near Prestea in
the Western Region.
Police suspect the drink might have been laced with aphrodisiac.
The four are currently on admission at the Prestea Government Hospital
while the body of the deceased has since been deposited at the same
hospital.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the District Crime Officer, ASP
Emmanuel Nwinsori of the Prestea Police Command said last Friday,
Akosua's husband contracted the four to fetch firewood from her farm
to the house.
He said after the day's work and in a show of appreciation, Maame
Akosua entered her room and brought out the bottle containing the
drink allegedly prepared by her husband who had travelled.
As tradition demands, Maame Akosua first poured a quantity for herself
and after an act of libation, drunk the rest.
The drink, ASP Nwinsori said, was passed on to the next person and it
went round until the four had served themselves with quantities that
met their capability.
He said before Maame Akosua could come out with the payment for their
labour, the five including herself started complaining of abdominal
pain.
The district crime officer said sensing danger, onlookers quickly
rushed them to the hospital but Ogbolor was pronounced dead.
Hunt for suspect
According to ASP Nwinsori, preliminary investigations revealed that
the akpeteshie mixture was prepared by Maame Akosua's husband who is
reputed for brewing the local fin in the Gambia Village.
Although Maame Akosua's husband had travelled at the time of the
incident, ASP Nwinsori expressed hope that since the wife was in a
critical condition, they expect that the husband would rush to the
hospital on his return and help police in their investigation.
He said the identities of the other three victims were yet to be established.
Credit: Graphic Online
