Nation expresses shock at death of J.B. Danquah-Adu

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa North, Mr Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu, was murdered in cold blood in the wee hours of Tuesday, after he had been attacked by unidentified assailants at his residence at Shiashie, near the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange in Accra.

The MP was suspected to have been stabbed multiple times during the attack about 1:45 a.m.

Upon a visit to the house the Daily Graphic saw bloodstains on the wall behind the house and footprints, which are believed to be those of the attackers, in the backyard.

It is believed the killers used a ladder to help them scale the wall and get into the house. The walls of the house have electrical razor wires.

Swift investigation

Meanwhile, the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has appealed for thorough investigations into the death of the MP.

He expressed the hope that professional and swift investigations would be carried out for the perpetrators of the crime to face the full rigour of the law.

Speaking on the issue on Tuesday, Nana Akufo-Addo, however, called on party supporters to remain calm as the police carried out their investigations.

Sympathisers

The incident which went viral in the early hours of yesterday, led to a number of sympathisers trooping to the residence of the late MP, while scores of media personnel were seen trying to capture the scene.

The sympathisers included the Vice-Presidential candidate of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; the MP for Ablekuma West, Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful and a former MP for New Juaben North, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman.

Later, Members of Parliament visited the bereaved family to commiserate with them.

And President tweets

President John Dramani Mahama has expressed shock at the murder of the MP for Abuakwa North, Mr J.B. Danquah-Adu.

In a tweet, the President, who described the slain  MP, as his friend, consoled his relations on the death.

“Received news of my friend, Hon. J.B. Danquah Adu’s murder with shock. My heart goes out to his siblings, Frank etc, his wife & children,” the President tweeted.

Some members of the Ghana Police Service Management Board, including Commissioner of Police (COP) Mrs Rose Bio Atinga, the Accra Regional Police Commander, COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare and some senior police officers visited the crime scene.

In the early hours of the day, the police cordoned off  the residence and allowed only close family members into the house.

Members of the household, including the wife of the deceased, Ms Ivy Heward-Mills, who was present in the house when the incident occurred, were whisked away by the police.

Five arrested

The police were, however, did not state clearly whether the MP was killed by armed robbers or assassinated by some contract killers.

Later, the police announced that five persons including two women and three men were helping their investigations into the crime.

Though the police would not disclose the identity of the persons, the Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Mrs) Afia Tenge, told journalists that the suspects were being interrogated.

Police receive distress call

Mrs Tenge said the police received a distress call from some neighbours at about 1:45 am yesterday and some police personnel were dispatched to the scene.

She said the police found the MP in a pool of blood and took him to the Police Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body has since been deposited at the morgue of the same hospital.

Mrs Tenge said police preliminary investigations established that the MP was stabbed multiple times but they could not find the implement which was used by the assailants.

At team of high-level investigators, including forensic analysts were dispatched to the crime scene to collect evidence for examination as part of the investigations to unravel the mystery surrounding the death.

Mrs Tenge urged the public to assist the police with information that could lead to the arrest of the criminals.

Biography

Mr Danquah-Adu was born on July 2, 1965 at Old Tafo in the Eastern Region.

The 50-year-old MP was a professional accountant and a member of the Special Budget Committee of Parliament.

He was once a Deputy Minister of Women and Children's Affairs under the Kufuor administration.

He was also a member of the Trade, Industry and Tourism Committee and the grandson of the late Ghanaian statesman, J.B. Danquah.

He is survived by a wife and two children.