The Kumasi policeman suicide which occurred Wednesday morning, adds to the incessant cases of suicide across the country in recent times.
A police officer with the Buffalo Unit in Kumasi, Corporal Ebenezer Okyere on Wednesday morning [July 12], allegedly committed suicide at Tafo Mile 4 in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
The Kumasi policeman suicide comes few days after Felix Dorde, a 21-year-old man also killed himself by hanging on Friday, 7th July, at Tweemu community, close to Moree in the Central Region.
Graphic Online gathered from eyewitnesses that, late Corporal Ebenezer Okyere decided to take his life after receiving a phone call Wednesday morning.
The reports have it that the deceased girlfriend had visited him, but when the telephone call came, he went outside to answer it, and was overheard retorting after the call that killing himself will end everything. On coming back to his room, he asked his girlfriend to leave the house, threatening to kill her and as well kill himself if she refused to obey immediately.
According to the eyewitnesses, a few minutes after the girlfriend left the room with the intention of informing the police, a gunshot was heard from the room and when the door was opened, he was found dead in his sofa with the gun, an AK47 assault rifle lying on the floor.
A team from the homicide department confirmed his death after meeting his lifeless body in a sitting posture, with his head resting on an arm of the sofa. His well-ironed police uniform was also found lying on the floor.
The late Corporal Ebenezer Okyere is a native of Nsuta-Kwamang in the Sekyere Central District of Ashanti Region.
He was posted to the then Buffalo Unit after he passed out from the Police Training School in Kumasi in December 2008. He worked there until the unit was re-organized into the Special Weapons and Tactics Unit (SWAT), and has since then been with the SWAT unit.
However, he has been on patrol duties with officials of the Forestry Commission since Monday, officials of the Commission have confirmed.
Nhyira Fm reports revealed he was dropped-off at home on Tuesday morning after reporting on Monday. He was expected back at the Abuakwa Forestry Barrier Wednesday morning before news of his demise reached officials of the Forestry Commission.
Meanwhile, the police have started investigations into the matter, but the Regional Police Command is yet to issue official statement.
Public Relations Officer, ASP Juliana Obeng said the command will brief the media after meeting the bereaved family.
According to reports, Ghana records about 1,500 suicide cases annually; a figure which has constituted about seven per cent loss of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Also See: Alarming Rate of Suicide in Ghana Calling for Gov’t Attention
However, it is still perceived that suicide cases are under-reported in the country, as the aforementioned figure constitutes only the reported and recorded cases. The menace reached a disturbing height earlier this year, when over six suicide cases, involving youth between the ages of 16 and 30 were recorded in less than one month.
It has always been a very difficult task to ascertain what actually led to a particular incident of suicide, since the person involved is always the one who knows exactly what inspired his action.
However, it is very clear that a greater percentage of the causes are related to issues of mental health. This calls for meaningful investment in the mental health and education of citizens, especially on the part of the government.
Moreover, the need for the public to offer comfort and support to people who go through traumatic experiences cannot be overemphasized. This will certainly go a long way to avoid pushing them into entertaining the pathetic thoughts of ending their misery by committing suicide.
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