Former Second Lady Matilda Amissah-Arthur, the widow of the late former Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, has shared a harrowing account of a robbery that nearly claimed her life. The incident occurred in her bedroom on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.
In a video testimony, Mrs. Amissah-Arthur detailed the terrifying encounter with an intruder dressed in black who broke into her room, demanding money and threatening to kill her and anyone who might intervene.
“I thought I was dreaming. So, I sat on my bed and rubbed my face just to be sure that I wasn’t dreaming. And there he was standing there, and he said, ‘If you shout and somebody comes, I’ll kill them and kill you.’ So, I was sitting on my bed, and he said, ‘Give me the money,'” Mrs. Amissah-Arthur recounted.
She complied, handing over $2,200 and 50 euros, but the robber was dissatisfied and began ransacking her room for more valuables.
“We were renovating our mother’s house so my siblings brought money, and the money was with me. Quickly, I took the $2,200 dollars and gave him, and I had 50 euros of my own and I gave him, and I took my purse, gave the cedis to him, then he counted the money and said, ‘This small money.'”
“He got angry. He turned my room upside down, and of course, he didn’t find money or any jewelry. And then he said, ‘You wasted my time, so I will kill you. But I have to call my boss.’ By this time, he had dragged me from the bed and was hitting my head on the ground,” she continued.
In a chilling twist, the attacker spoke on the phone and received instructions to kill her. “He spoke on the phone for a couple of minutes and said, ‘My boss says I should shoot you, but I won’t shoot you. I will strangle you so that you’ll die a slow death and next time you come, you’ll have money.’ So, he started strangling me.”
Amidst the ordeal, Mrs. Amissah-Arthur asked for water. In a bizarre act, the attacker fetched water from her fridge and allowed her to drink before resuming his attack. “I got thirsty at some point, and I said, ‘I am thirsty.’ He stopped strangling me, went to my fridge for water, opened it, and put it in my mouth. Just when I started drinking, he snapped it, closed it, and continued strangling me.”
The traumatic event has shocked the nation, raising concerns about security and the safety of citizens in their own homes. Mrs. Amissah-Arthur’s brave recounting of the incident highlights the severe threat posed by such violent crimes.
The police are currently investigating the robbery, and there are calls for increased security measures to protect residents from similar attacks.