The main suspect in the murder case of the late MP for Abuakwa North, Joseph Boakye Danquah, on February 8, 2016, has testified in an Accra High Court that he was far away from the legislator’s residence at the time of the incident.
Daniel Asiedu claimed that he was subjected to physical assault by musician DSP Kofi Sarpong in an engine room, compelling him to confess to the crime in the presence of IGP Dr. Akuffo Dampare and SP Afia Tenge.
During his defense, Mr Asiedu informed the court that on the day of the murder, he visited Agbogbloshie to engage the services of a prostitute after earning profits from selling flash drives filled with songs.
He recounted spending the night at the woman’s place after two intimate encounters and then visiting Konkonsa Bar at Agblogbloshie early in the morning for refreshments.
Upon returning to the woman’s residence, he discovered a large crowd gathered there, inquiring about his whereabouts, instigated by a pimp who turned out to be a police informant.
Mr Asiedu narrated reporting the incident to the Regional Police station after learning from his companion, Janet, that she had confronted the pimp regarding their night together.
He described being escorted to meet IGP Dampare, flanked by DSP Sarpong and DSP Afia Tenge, who questioned him about his alleged involvement in the crime.
Asiedu alleged being taken to an engine room, where DSP Kofi Sarpong attacked him with a machete and inflicted blows, compelling him to confess to the allegations made by IGP Dampare.
Under duress, Asiedu admitted to the crime when confronted again by the Police Chief.
The prime suspect in the murder of former MP for Abuakwa North, JB Danquah is alleging he was forced to accept responsibility for the crime by top police officials including the current Inspector General of Police.@LH_AduAsare reports.#3NewsGH pic.twitter.com/sykKeLoE2N
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) May 15, 2024
Below are excerpts of his cross-examination:
A. I made up my mind to report the matter at the regional police station but on my way to pick an okada the rider told me not to because he knows Mawuko‘s superior who goes by the name Adotey and that he will lead me to Adotey to report the matter to him so that he would warm Mawuko. When the okada took me to Adotey he gave me a seat and I explained him what happened and that was the first time I met Adotey who is an informant.
Adotey told me to exercise patience and that he will lead me to the regional police station to report the issue and that was the first time I went to the regional police station. When we got to the police station Adotey asked me to wait by a police officer while he goes to see the police commander. When he returned from seeing the police commander, he asked me to come with him to see the police commander so the two of us went to the police commander’s office.
Q. Tell this court what time was this?
A. We got to the police at about 5:25am
Q. In your statement yesterday you mentioned Allotey and today you mentioned Adotey. Who are they?
A. The name I mentioned yesterday is not Allotey. His name is Adotey and he is an informant. The mentioned their name to me as Dampare, ASP Kofi Sarpong and the female was Afia Tenge. I turned around and saw that Adotey had left the office and was standing outside. Officer Dampare gave me a seat in front of him and two other officers sat by each side of me.
Dampare took his phone out and decided to record me and he asked me ‘who sent you’ and I asked what was going on. He continued to ask me if one NDC man called Sorogo and one short NDC man with an Ewe name. When I was at the police station o saw on the TV that he had been arrested at his office and sent to the CID HQ. He has an Ewe name that I cannot pronounce.
ASP Sarpong took me to the Engine room and took a machete out of a fridge and hit my head with it. I was bleeding and dazed. He told me to accept whatever Dampare was telling me or else I would be killed. I stood there for a while because at that moment I couldn’t think straight. I did not answer the questions he was asking me.
Q. When you were attacked with a machete by this gospel singer police officer and you felt dizzy and did not answer his questions, what happened after that?
A. He stood behind me and slapped me from both sides. At that moment I knelt down and begged him that whatever he said I have said and I shall do as he had asked me.
Q. Why did you kneel down to beg?
A. I have not died and resurrected before so I did want to take any decision that he would regret. So, I agreed to do whatever that he asked me with the hope that I can explain and understand what they were asking from me.
He understood me and took me back to the office and sat me down. Dampare once again took out his phones and d started filming me. He mentioned those two names and asked if they were the persons who sent me? and I said yes. I was kept there from morning till about 6pm and I was moved to the BNI office at Kawukudi.
Presiding judge Lydia Osei Marfo adjourned the case to May 29 for the continuation of the witness testimony of Daniel Asiedu.