Residents of Dumanaafo, near Mamponteng in the Kwabere East Municipality of the Ashanti Region, are in fear after suspected ritualists amputated a corpse that had been laid in repose awaiting burial.
According to residents, the suspects, who are yet to be identified, chopped off one of the hands of the corpse and made away with it for reasons only known to them.
The funeral procession for the deceased, Clement Osei Kofi, 38, came to a halt when the family discovered the missing hand at midnight on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
Yaa Pomaa, sister to the deceased, revealed in an interview with Akwadaa Nyame that her brother had all his hands intact when they brought him home for the funeral arrangements.
“My brother was laid in bed when the family decided to keep wake ahead of his burial. The corpse was arranged and laid on the bed for sympathizers to pay their last respects as custom demands.
“Most of us keeping wake were tired and fell asleep. We woke up in the morning and discovered that the bed on which we laid our brother had been tampered with. After a thorough check of the body, we saw his left hand was missing.” She narrated
She noted that the family had reported the incident to the police for investigation.
Meanwhile, some residents suspect foul play, alleging that the deceased belonged to a secret society without the family’s knowledge.
So far, there have been no arrest, and the body is yet to be buried.