Linguist, 51, Shot Dead Accidentally

A 51-Year-Old man, Okyeame Kwasi Laryea, a linguist for the Chief of Akyeam Ahwenease, was shot dead at a funeral last Saturday at Akyeam Akrofufu in the Atiwa District of the Eastern Region. The suspect, Kwaku Okyere is in the grip of the Anyinam Police Command, assisting in investigation, whilst the body of Laryea has been deposited at the Kibi Government Hospital mortuary for post-Mortem. An eyewitness, Kwame Fosu told The Ghanaian Times that, Laryea was shot dead at close range by Okyere, when the traditional chiefs, of the Okyeman Traditional Council attended a funeral of the late Opanin Yaw Owusu, a former linguist of Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Opanin. According to him, as tradition and custom demands, during funerals of any chief or elderly person muskets are fired to show respect for the deceased, and that it was under those circumstances that Okyeame Laryea was shot in the stomach. Some of the sub-chiefs and the mourners, who were gripped with fear following the incident, ran away leaving the deceased in a pool of blood. The eye witness said Laryea was rushed to a nearby clinic at Anyinam for treatment, but was pronounced dead on arrival. The body was later transferred to the Kibi Government Hospital Mortuary. The Anyinam Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Darko, who confirmed the story to The Ghanaian Times, said that the suspect is in police custody, assisting in investigations. He added that, the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at about 5:30 p.m.