The family of Bismark Awatey Kabutey, a 37-year-old man who was tragically lynched by a mob in Teshie, Greater Accra Region, is seeking justice for his brutal death.
The incident occurred on July 28, 2024, following a wedding and birthday party.
Originally from Aboa-Lower, a farming village in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region, Kabutey had attended a wedding in Madina with his friend Junior before joining a birthday celebration in Teshie.
As the night ended and they prepared to return home, the two friends found themselves caught in a deadly situation.
According to Junior, who was present during the incident, the tragedy unfolded after a misunderstanding between Kabutey, who was intoxicated, and a taxi driver hired to take them home.
“On the way, there was some kind of misunderstanding between Bismark and the driver. Suddenly, the driver stopped the car and started shouting ‘Thief! Thief! Thief!’” Junior recounted. Within moments, a mob formed, armed with stones, clubs, and other weapons. “They didn’t ask us any questions; they just started attacking Bismark,” he added.
Despite Junior’s desperate attempts to explain that they were wedding guests and not criminals, the mob ignored his pleas. “I went on my knees, begging them, but they wouldn’t listen. Some of them even started hitting me. I had no choice but to run for my life through the back of a building,” Junior said, reliving the horror of the night.
Unable to find his friend after escaping the attack, Junior later learned that Kabutey’s lifeless body had been discovered and taken to the Police Hospital Mortuary in Accra.
The family of Bismark Awatey Kabutey, devastated by the news, has lodged a formal complaint with the Teshie Police, urging a thorough investigation into the incident and demanding that those responsible be brought to justice.
“We are heartbroken and in shock. Our brother went to celebrate with friends and never returned. He was not a thief. We need justice for Bismark,” a family spokesperson stated.
Once a goalkeeper with dreams of pursuing a professional career, Kabutey eventually left football behind when his aspirations didn’t materialize. He returned to his village, working on a farm to provide for his family before his life was cut short in this senseless act of violence.