GENERAL NEWS
48-Year Old Ghanaian Poisoned To Death In South Africa – Family Demands Justice
Newton Kwaku Boateng, a 48-year-old Ghanaian businessman based in South Africa, died mysteriously after being poisoned to death in his own house in Gauteng Province.
According to reports from the deceased’s brother George Effah Boateng, he died on Thursday, March 2, 2023, after struggling to fight for his life after drunken a poisonous tea but no one could come to his aid despite attempts by his house help to come to his aid but were prevented by his wife Alinah Mahlangu, a South African national, while his cell phone was snatched from him, preventing him from calling for assistance.
His wife Alinah Mahlangu prior to reporting the incident to the Kempton Park police station in the Gauteng Province, the deceased’s Range Rover, which was parked in his garage, vanished to an unknown location, along with the deceased’s other valuable personal belongings, which were all taken from his flat.
When the Ghanaian community in South Africa learnt of the mystery surrounding their countryman’s death, a delegation was dispatched to meet with the wife and question her about the cause of death.
According to the deceased wife’s narrations, the deceased died after taking a tea leaf, but a preliminary examination of the body revealed bruises and cuts around the neck and back, as well as signs of being strangled after being poisoned.
The inconsistencies in the deceased’s South African wife’s comments infuriated the Ghanaian community in South Africa, who suspected foul play and wrote to the High Commission, which wrote to the police on Tuesday 7th March 2023, asking for cooperation in the investigations.
She was also accused of secretly transporting Newton Kwaku Boateng’s body to a private funeral home without a police escort and without the knowledge of any family member or members of the Ghanaian community, which the family and the Ghanaian community in South Africa described as a very bad ploy to conceal the true truth from the public and called on the Ghanaian High Commission to intervene immediately.
Both the deceased’s family and the disgruntled Ghanaians have accused the deceased’s South African wife of suspected foul play, alleging a cover-up in collaboration with the police, as well as threats against those appointed to oversee the investigations, autopsy, and final conveyance of the body to Ghana.
Mr. George Effah Boateng, the deceased brother who lives in South Africa and was given power of attorney by the late Newton Kwaku Boateng’s family, has also gone into hiding to protect his life after receiving threats from some friends of his late brother’s wife and unknown persons.
Mr Effah had previously expressed concerns about matters such as investigations and attempts by the wife to relocate the deceased’s body from the funeral home into an unknown mortuary while investigations were ongoing, which were vehemently opposed by the family, resulting in threats to his life.
The late Newton Kwaku Boateng’s brother believes his relative was murdered, and that the wife is a major suspect, but that she is working to prevent the family from gathering information, particularly the autopsy report, which indicates the cause of death.
She later held a memorial service on March 9, 2023, without the consent of the family or the Ghanaian community, a decision that was condemned by the Ghanaian community in South Africa.
Mr Godwin Attipoe, head of the family of the late Newton Boateng explained that “We are completely devastated and enraged. We are heartbroken and demand justice for our brother, whose life was taken under mysterious circumstances, while law enforcement agencies, rather than exposing the truth, are now attempting to shield and cover up the perpetrators “.
He revealed that the South African police have been making excuses for weeks after Newton Kwaku Boateng’s death, claiming that they are still investigating the incident despite the fact that it occurred in his own flat and that autopsy results are pending.
“We have been denied several attempts to obtain the autopsy report to determine what could have caused the death of our brother by the wife, who is in collusion with the police, and would call on the Ghana High Commission in South Africa to assist the family in supervising the autopsy on the deceased, which the South African police and the wife have refused,” Mr Godwin Attipoe added.
Mr. Richard Kweku Boateng, a cousin of the deceased based in the United States of America, reiterated that the family has not authorised the wife Alinah Mahlangu or any of her accomplices to represent the family on the issue of acquiring the autopsy report or burring their relative in South Africa, and would like to request that the Ghanaian High Commission in South Africa intervene by mediating and ensuring that the autopsy report is successfully completed and subsequently conveying the body to Ghana for burial.
Mr. Richard Boateng emphasised that the family also warned the deceased’s wife to stop plotting to overturn and possibly cause of death of their relative, as they had been reliably informed of allegedly colluding with the South African investigative body in charge of the case to destroy the dockets, as there had been threats from the deceased’s wife to some family members to stop requesting an autopsy report.
“Even though the Ghana High Commission in South Africa has given us the initial backing with letters to see to the murder investigations, autopsies play an extremely important role in medical malpractice lawsuits because they provide detailed information about the cause of death and will urge that the commission come to the aide of the family at this crossroads; legally, autopsies are only required under certain circumstances, including if there is suspicion of foul plundering,” Mr Attipoe filed an appeal.
If someone dies but is not under the care of a medical professional, an autopsy may be ordered.
The official cause of death for the deceased in this case is unknown. However, the family stated that they still have unanswered questions.
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CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
The Black Sheep of NDC: Mfantsiman Cries Out for Relief – Journalist Bemoans
In a stark contrast to the efforts of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama’s administration and various government officials, one member of parliament has been singled out for neglect and ineptitude. Hon. Ebenezer Prince Arhin (PhD), the MP for Mfantsiman Constituency, has been accused of failing his constituents amidst a severe water crisis.
The Mfantsiman Constituency has been grappling with an acute water shortage since October of last year, affecting the livelihoods of indegenes and non-natives alike. The situation is dire, with families struggling to access clean water for basic needs. Patients at clinics and hospitals require water for hygiene, and families are forced to carry buckets of water to healthcare facilities.
The water crisis has had far-reaching consequences, including:
– Contributing to a widespread cholera outbreak in Biriwa, a town under the constituency.
– Increased expenses for civil servants, such as teachers, nurses, and police officers, who must purchase water for daily use.
– Late arrivals to workplaces due to the quest for water.
– Estimated bills from the Ghana Water Company remain high despite lack of water supply.
The cost of water has skyrocketed, with a gallon selling for 7 cedis. Residents are forced to pay for transportation if they are not near the source of distribution.
Although there have been nothing like an official statement to this effect, the MP’s sympathizers claim that the main source of water to the reservoir that treats and pumps water to various houses in the constituency has dried up and that the rains will bring relief. However, despite continuous rainfall for over a month, taps remain dry.
The people of Mfantsiman are urging their MP to take their plight seriously and lobby for solutions. If not, the NDC may face consequences in the constituency, where residents are increasingly feeling neglected. They believe this NDC administration hastens in quests to solve issues that bothers citizens, and the powers that are in charge and can help obliterate this menace will bring great relief to the constituents.
The question remains: will Hon. Ebenezer Prince Arhin (PhD) heed the call and work towards resolving the water crisis, or will he continue to be the “black sheep” of the NDC?
See Something Say Something.
Story: Lionel Kwabena Osei
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Buzz
Jomoro MP, Dorcas Affo-Toffey Allegedly Attacks Diasporans In East Legon (Video Drops)*
In a recent incident that happened at Evans Hotel, near Trasacco Valley, East Legon, member of parliament for Jomoro Constituency, Western Region is alleged to have been in a ferocious brawl with a diasporan family who came to Ghana for the Christmas holidays.
The victim, Olivia, an American giving her account on the incident, explains that Hon. Dorcas Affo-Toffey parked in a wrong spot at the hotel leaving little to no space for other patrons to park their cars. This attracted the security guard at post to confront the MP but he was met with series of insults and an order to back off.
Olivia further explains that they needed a space to park their car also so her boyfriend, who was in the car with her and her father decided to talk to Hon. Dorcas so she could do the needful. But he was equally met with more scorn and barbs. She (the MP) then ordered her bodyguard and a group of men and women she was with to beat them up and in the process got their car mangled at different spots and glasses cracked as well.
Olivia then added that she got hurt physically and her whole family are traumatized by the happenings. She lastly said she did not know the said woman was even a lawmaker until after the incident. She quizzed that if lawmakers are this lawless, who will fight for ordinary citizens?
Olivia shared that she has since reported the case to the police and hope due diligence will be done and the peppertrators be brought to book according to the law. She said the security camera of the hotel captured the whole event which corroborates with her story.
Minister of Jomoro Constituency, Western Region, Hon. Dorcas Affo-Toffey is yet to speak to the matter.
Watch the account of Olivia on the case and snippets of the incident from the CCTV of Evans Hotel.
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