The Western Central Regional Police Command has commenced investigations into the death of a 19-year-old boy who allegedly committed suicide while in police custody at the Simpa Police Station in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.
Chief Superintendent of Police Kusi Appiah, the Regional Crime Officer for the Western Central Region, confirmed the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
He said the complainant, Isaac Asare, a small-scale miner, worked with the deceased and that both resided at Simpa.
On Sunday, June 1, 2025, the complainant returned from work and discovered that six blades of gold (value yet to be determined) had been stolen from his room. He suspected Obeng, the deceased, was behind the theft.
Chief Superintendent Kusi Appiah stated that on June 6, 2025, the complainant, with the assistance of a group of people, apprehended Obeng and handed him over to the Simpa Police Station, where he was detained for alleged stealing.
According to him, the deceased admitted to the crime and even led the investigator handling the case to the location where he had allegedly sold the gold. However, the person who had bought the gold was not available at the time.
The Regional Crime Officer reported that on Sunday, June 8, at around 05:00 hours, a non-commissioned officer on duty at the charge office found the deceased hanging from the inner cell gate with a torn piece of the blanket he had been sleeping on.
He said the body of Obeng has since been deposited at the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital mortuary at Bogrekrom for autopsy and preservation.
