Fetish Priest Arrested Following Brutal Murder and Mutilation of Kasoa Trader
Chilling Breakthrough: Police Uncover Gruesome Details in Ritual Killing of Kasoa Businesswoman
- The victim was murdered by a fetish priest she had previously visited for medical and spiritual help.
- Following a confession, police recovered the victim’s dismembered remains from separate sites in the Central and Volta Regions.
- Local residents destroyed the suspect’s home and shrine in a fit of rage, potentially hindering the recovery of the murder weapon.
In a chilling update to a missing person case, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has apprehended a 25-year-old fetish priest and herbalist for the murder and dismemberment of Joyce Akua Ampongmaa, a 40-year-old trader.
The Director-General of the CID, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, detailed the investigation during a press briefing on Tuesday, May 12, marking a significant breakthrough for the Homicide Unit.
Timeline of the Crime
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March 4, 2026: Joyce Akua Ampongmaa visited the suspect’s shrine in Awutu Bentum seeking “spiritual protection” for her business. She had previously sought treatment from him for a medical condition in 2025.
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March 10, 2026: Authorities were alerted by the Safohene of Awutu Bentum after a mutilated female body—missing its head and both legs—was discovered in a nearby bush.
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March 13, 2026: Following initial investigations, the suspect was arrested, arraigned before the Adabraka District Court, and remanded into custody.
A Gruesome Confession
During police interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to the killing. He detailed a premeditated plan in which he lured Ampongmaa into a cassava farm under the guise of gathering medicinal herbs.
“He attacked her from behind with a cutlass, killed her, dismembered the body, and concealed the remains in the bush before taking parts away,” COP Donkor disclosed.
Recovery of Remains
Following a court order, the suspect led investigators on a grim recovery mission across two regions:
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Mafi Avedo (Volta Region): The suspect directed police to where he had buried the victim’s head.
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Awutu Bentum (Central Region): The victim’s legs were recovered from the suspect’s own residence.
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Evidence Retrieval: Police also recovered the victim’s destroyed mobile phones from a bush and a latrine, though the murder weapon has yet to be found.
Current Status
The community’s reaction to the crime was swift; the suspect’s shrine and residence were demolished by local residents shortly after the news broke. While this has complicated the search for further physical evidence, the CID confirms that all recovered body parts are currently at the Police Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue to ensure a robust case for prosecution.
