The family of 10-year-old Ishmael Mensah who was allegedly murdered by two teenagers for rituals is urging the police to hand over the corpse of their son for a befitting burial.
“We are appealing to the Ghana Police Service, from the President who is the commander in chief to the lowest person to come to our aid, the police must expedite action and ensure that a tomorrow that we have been promised, we will get our body and bury Ishmael so that the rest can be continued that is our major cry now,” they told JoyNews’ Maxwell Agbagba.
According to the spokesperson of the family Samed Aklilu, Islamic customs demand that dead bodies are buried in the shortest possible time.
He further indicated that their son’s death has been a big blow to them adding that, not handing over the corpse of their son is traumatising.
“Yes we have lost Ishmael we are not going to get Ishmael forever but our major worry now is that we are not getting the body as early as we want.
“This is uncharacteristic with of a Muslim dead body, I mean we all know that for us as Muslims the moment you are dead the next available opportunity you are buried,” he emphasised on Wednesday.
Mr. Aklilu further disclosed that it was the family’s expectation to get the body of the deceased yesterday after court proceedings in order to focus on the legal aspect of the issue at hand but that did not go as planned.
Meanwhile, the Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan has assured that the culprits will be dealt with stressing that when justice is meted out, it will serve as a deterrent to others.
Ishmael was murdered by two teenagers, Felix Nyarko,16 and Nicholas Kene, 18 who have been handed over to the police to assist in investigations.
The sad incident happened at Kasoa Lamptey Mills in the Awutu Senya East Municipality in the Central Region on April 3, 2021.
The suspects, giving the rationale behind their actions, told the police a fetish priest in the Volta Region had asked them to bring a body part for money.
Meanwhile, the spiritualist alleged to be at the centre of the gruesome killing has been arrested at Amanase near Suhum in the Eastern Region.
According to them, they initially wanted to kidnap the boy, demand ¢5,000 ransom from his family before going ahead to kill him and get the needed body part for the spiritualist.
The remains of Ishmael Mensah have since been deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.
