Four suspects who had been standing trial for the 2019 murder of Josephine Asante, former Marketing and Public Affairs Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), have been discharged.
The TDC District Magistrate Court in Tema, presided over by Benedicta Antwi, acted on the advice of the Attorney-General’s Department, which cited insufficient evidence to continue with the prosecution.
Those discharged include the deceased’s houseboy, Christian Adjei, along with Richard Kwabena Kwakye, Dominic Owusu, and Frederick Owusu Oppong.
Chief Inspector Hilda Asante Sarkodie, who led the prosecution, told the court that the Attorney-General’s advice — signed by Principal State Attorney Joshua Sackey — concluded that the suspects had been arrested and charged based merely on suspicion.
The advice emphasised that suspicion without corroborating material evidence was inadequate to sustain criminal charges.
The report further questioned the credibility of the prosecution’s case and cast doubt on the identification of the actual perpetrator, leading to the recommendation that all four be discharged.
Josephine Asante was found murdered under mysterious circumstances at her home at Emefs Estates near Afienya on January 13, 2019, shortly after returning from a GPHA staff party.
The investigation has since been plagued by multiple arrests, re-arrests, and prolonged procedural delays, with no clarity on who committed the crime.
While the court’s decision brought relief to the accused persons, it sparked outrage and disappointment among the deceased’s family, who have long demanded justice.
The court advised the bereaved family to consult a lawyer and consider petitioning the Attorney-General if they were dissatisfied with the decision.
Speaking to Joy News after the ruling, Josephine’s brother, Robert Tandoh, expressed frustration and disbelief.
“I’m shocked but not surprised. It’s taken us five years to get here, five years of investigations, only to be told there’s insufficient evidence. What exactly was the police investigating all this time?” he questioned.
Mr. Tandoh criticised the Attorney-General’s advice for failing to recommend further investigations, calling it a blow to the family’s search for justice.
“This just confirms what I’ve always suspected — that in Ghana, you can get away with anything,” he said.
Despite the setback, he affirmed the family’s determination to continue pursuing justice and their intent to obtain court documents for possible legal action.
He also called on the media and the public to help keep the case in the spotlight.
“We won’t forget, and we won’t stop. But we need your help to keep this case from fading into silence,” he added.
The case remains unresolved, casting a shadow over Ghana’s criminal justice system and highlighting the frustrations of victims’ families in high-profile murder investigations.
Josephine’s widower, Franklin Kwame Asante, also voiced deep anguish over the Attorney-General’s advice and questioned why key evidence — including a video confession from the prime suspect — was disregarded.
“The person confessed. He’s on video. Now you turn around and say there was no witness? When people commit murder, do they bring spectators?” he asked.
Despite his heartbreak, he vowed to fight on: “We’re down, but we’re not finished. We’ll take it up again and find out if there is truly justice in this country.”
Source: Kwame Yankah
