Kansaworodo, Western Region – In a horrifying incident that has left the Kansaworodo community in shock and mourning, a 23-year-old man, identified as Nana Kwame, has been arrested for allegedly murdering a 60-year-old man near the Kansaworodo Palace.
According to community members, Nana Kwame, who once attended Tarkwa Senior High School but dropped out two weeks before his final WASSCE examinations, had been engaged in illegal mining (galamsey) for the past four years. Though he occasionally visited his mother in Kansaworodo, residents say he had become withdrawn and erratic in recent times.
Three days ago, around 4:30 PM, Nana Kwame returned home naked, raising concern among neighbors. When questioned, he reportedly gave incoherent and disturbing responses, suggesting signs of mental instability.
The situation escalated on Wednesday when he reportedly attacked his own mother with a wooden pestle while they were in a room together. She sustained severe injuries and was rushed to the Effiankwanta Regional Hospital.
After receiving treatment and being discharged, the mother called on her brother (Nana Kwame’s uncle) to help seek mental health assistance for the young man.
However, before further action could be taken, tragedy struck.
On Wednesday evening, screams were heard near the Kansaworodo Palace. Eyewitnesses, including Madam Naomi, said they heard a man crying for help.
Rushing to the scene, they found the elderly man being assaulted by Nana Kwame, who allegedly stabbed him in the stomach with scissors and then a knife. In a deeply disturbing twist, bystanders claimed they witnessed the suspect drinking the victim’s blood while shouting, “I need blood, I need blood!”
Police officers from the Western Regional Command arrived at the scene early Thursday morning and arrested Nana Kwame, who is currently in custody as investigations continue.
The victim’s identity is yet to be formally released, but residents describe him as a peaceful man and a respected elder in the community.
The community is in mourning, and many have called for urgent mental health interventions and awareness, especially among young people returning from mining sites. Authorities have assured the public that justice will be served and have urged residents to remain calm as the investigation unfolds.
This tragic event serves as a grim reminder of the growing mental health crisis in Ghana and the need for timely intervention and community support systems.
Credit: Francis Ackon Kikinho – Skyy Media
