When the The Guardian reported on the stories of several mysterious killings of women in Ghana in the early 2000s, it titled one of its reports as, ‘Fear grips Ghana as ritual killer claims 34th victim.’ It was, as close as possible, the best attempt at describing what the nation was going through in those days.
With no internet or the blessings of technological advancements as there exists presently, the similar styles of murders of these women scared many Ghanaians with every new report of another discovery of the heinous crime.
Ultimately, one name: Charles Quansah, who admitted to killing only 8 of the women, popped up and became the center of most of the case that would run for a few years.
But in this GhanaWeb report, we reflect on the names of the women who were eventually identified; some of whom were believed to have been foreigners and ‘known’ prostitutes.
Murdering 34 women: Quansah wants to talk
The following uncompleted list were first published on GhanaWeb, but sourced from the New Crusading Guide between 2007 and 2010.
Here they are:
1. Name Of Deceased – Victoria Mackitteh
Place Of Death – Awoshie, Accra
Date Of Death – Friday, April 16, 1999
*She has a cousin called Anthony Awortwi of H/No AN246, Awoshie, Accra
2. Name Of Deceased – Ama Ampofowah
Place Of Death – Cathedral, Mataheko
Date Of Death – Wednesday, April 28, 1999
*She was the daughter of Esi Panyin, a farmer of Akim Asene, Eastern Region
3. Name Of Deceased – Comfort Bixgon
Place Of Death – Dansoman, Exhibition
Date Of Death – Friday, May 14, 1999
*No information for identification
4. Name Of Deceased – Georgina Amoah
Place Of Death – Abossey Okai
Date Of Death – Saturday, May 16, 1999
*Publication of her photograph led to identification as Georgina Amoah. Investigation hinted that deceased was a known prostitute
5. Name Of Deceased – Martha Ankrah
Place Of Death – Santa Maria, Odorkor
Date Of Death – Thursday, June 3, 1999
*Her father, Emmanuel Ankrah of H/NO 8M/127, Santa Maria
6. Name Of Deceased – Unknown
Place Of Death – Dansoman
Date Of Death – Tuesday, June 22, 1999
*Her body was discovered by Edward Dufe and the assemblyman
7. Name Of Deceased – Unknown
Place Of Death – Laterbiokorshie
Date Of Death – Sunday, August 15, 1999
*She was found dead in a maize farm at Zoti. No identification
8. NAME OF DECEASED – Araba Quansima
PLACE OF DEATH – Russia, Accra
DATE OF DEATH – Monday, August 30, 1999
*Her sister is Mrs Sara Appiah of Dansoman
9. NAME OF DECEASED – Unknown
Place Of Death – Akoko-Foto, Dansoman
Date Of Death – Friday, September 24, 1999
*Body Was Discovered by Mr KB Coleman, a resident of Dansoman, in the bush
10. Name Of Deceased – Patience Awa Ohiefe
Place Of Death – Mataheko
Date Of Death – Thursday, September 30, 1999
*Was born and bred in Ohiefe State in Nigeria. Her younger sister is Blessed Usin
11. Name Of Deceased – Comfort Boafo
Place Of Death – Adabraka
Date Of Death – Saturday, October 2, 1999
*She has a sister called Mercy Mango of H/No 127/3, La, Accra
12. Name Of Deceased – Felicia Owusu Oprah Akosua
Place Of Death – Mataheko
Date Of Death – Sunday, March 12, 2000
13. Name Of Deceased – Unidentified
Place Of Death – In a bush at Waakye, Kissehman
Date Of Death – Sunday, June 25, 2000
*Not Yet Identified Hence No Known Relative
14. Name Of Deceased – Annita Abban @ Efua Beisua
Place Of Death – Asylum Down
Date Of Death – Sunday, July 2, 2000
*Her father is Mr Abban, resident at East Legon, Accra
15. Name Of Deceased – Akosua Obiriwa Mansah
Place Of Death – Ogbojo, Madina
Date Of Death – Tuesday, November 14, 2000
*Later identified by a brother by name Yaw Sarpong. She hailed from Dichemso, Kumasi, Ashanti Region
16. Name Of Deceased – Fafa Avedzida
Place Of Death – Adenta Housing Down, Madina
Date Of Death – Friday, November 14, 2000
*She has a cousin who lives at Shashie, West Legon, called Juliana Dzikunu
17. Name Of Deceased – Milicent Mawunya Adeku
Place Of Death – Adenta Housing Down, Madina
Date Of Death – Monday, December 11, 2000
18. Name Of Deceased – Charity Akosua Apreku
Place Of Death – Spintex Road
Date Of Death – Monday, December 18, 2000
19. Name Of Deceased – Unknown
Place Of Death – IPS (now UPSA) Junction Near Unipetrol,
Legon
Date Of Death – Unknown but body found on Xxx
20. Name Of Deceased – Joyce Boateng
Place Of Death – Aviation Station
Date Of Death – Monday, February 19, 2001
21. Name Of Deceased – Janet Aku Dawodzie
Place Of Death – Asiyie, Accra-Dodowa Road
Date Of Death – Thursday, March 22, 2001
22. NAME OF DECEASED – Monica Serwaa
PLACE OF DEATH – Dansoman
DATE OF DEATH – Thursday, August 20, 1998
She has an uncle called Kwadwo Kusi at Dansoman
23. NAME OF DECEASED – Unidentified
PLACE OF DEATH – SAAKAMAN
DATE OF DEATH – Tuesday, September 29, 1998
24. NAME OF DECEASED – GIFTY ANNAN
PLACE OF DEATH – New Abossey Okai
DATE OF DEATH – Saturday, October 17, 1998
Born and bred at Larterbiokorshie, lived with grandmother, Mrs Anna Annan at New Abossey Okai. Her father Curtis Nii Teikofio Annan, now outside Ghana. Mother is dead
25. NAME OF DECEASED – ADWOA LAREAH
PLACE OF DEATH – Kaneshie
DATE OF DEATH – Saturday, April 25, 1998
MOTHER – Esi Twumwaa of Kwashieman
FATHER – Kwasi Awurapa (Deceased)
26. NAME OF DECEASED – BEATRICE NAADU LARTEY
PLACE OF DEATH – RUSSIA
DATE OF DEATH – Friday, OCTOBER 30, 1998
Father – Lartey Larteye, Native of Prampram
Mother – Okai Jojoo, Native of Swalaba
Husband – George Gumah, Bar Operator, Mataheko
AE
