Vals day suicide …3rd policeman kills himself within 2 weeks

A 50-year old officer of the Ghana Police Service is reported to have scribbled a brief suicide note during the early hours of Valentine’s Day after which he grabbed a loaded pistol and shot himself in the chin in a style that made the bullet pop out of his left eyes before he died same day.

The name has been given as DSP Asiam Divine Yao and said to have committed the criminal act of suicide at his Tema Community 18 residence, in an area known as Borteyman.

This is the third reported suicide committed by officers and men of Ghana Police Service between January 30 and February 14.

According to a police situation report on the DSP’s death, at about 07:45 AM on February 14, 2021, the Adjei-Kojo District Crime Officer had information there was a shooting incident in the room of DSP Divine Asiam of the Tema Courts Unit at Borteyman.

The report revealed that: “Men were dispatched to the scene and met the officer with a gunshot wound around his left eye suspected to be self-inflicted and bleeding profusely but still alive. He was quickly rushed to the Police Hospital for medical attention where he was admitted but died shortly after.

“Police returned to the room where the incident happened and retrieved a Pietro Berretta pistol smeared with blood on the floor…Four live rounds of ammunition were found in its magazine…A suicide note dated 14/02/2021 at about 01.30 hrs and a spent shell were also retrieved…The exhibits retrieved are being kept for evidence”, the report said.

It continued: “The District Crime Officer, DSP Akrofi Ansah and the investigator, D/PW/Sgt. Victoria Afedo, proceeded to the Police Hospital where he was seen on a stretcher in a supine position. Examination on the body revealed gunshot wounds to the chin and top of his left eye, suggesting he shot himself under his chin and the bullet exited through the top of his left eye.

“Crime scene officers have been notified and are proceeding to the scene. Further development will be communicated”, it added.

The DSP’s family have been informed of his death.

JANUARY 30

Supt Cyprian Zenge, the   District Police Commander, at Half Assini was reported to have shot himself in his house on January 30, barely two weeks ago.

According to the assemblyman for the area, Kizito Trill Erzoah, the deceased left behind a note which read, “I am fed up”.

Reasons he was fed up remain unknown but Public Relations Officer of the Western Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Olivia Adiku, confirmed his death and said further details would be made public after investigations are completed.

FEBRUARY 1

On 1 February 2021, another police man, G/Const. Yelnona Eugene, with the National Protection Unit (NPU), was also believed to have committed suicide after he was found dead in a washroom at his duty post.

G/Const. Yelnona Eugene was put on residential guard duty at the Ridge residence of Togolese opposition leader Sylvio Olympio in Accra, when he reportedly took his own life.