Murdered female banker to be buried today

The 32-year-old worker of Stanbic Bank, who was found dead in her kitchen about three weeks ago, will be laid to rest today at the Osu Cemetery.

Family members, friends and sympathisers will gather at the family house of Ms Rosemond Nyampong at Ofankor in Accra for the final funeral rites.

Ms Nyampong was murdered in her house at Baatsona on Thursday, November 21, this year.

A programme line-up indicates that the body of the deceased would be laid in state at the Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), Dominion Centre, where she worshipped.

The final funeral rites will be followed by a memorial thanksgiving service on Sunday December 15, 2013.

Pool of blood

Ms Nyampong’s family members had found her dead in a pool of blood in her kitchen on November 21, 2013 after they had reported to the police that she had gone missing for a while.

Before her death, Ms Nyampong, who was a disbursement officer at the head office of the Stanbic Bank, was reported to have gone to work on November 20, 2013 and closed at 5:30 p.m.

Arrest of suspect 

A suspect, Abraham Baah Kwame Oyortey, has been arrested at his hideout at Krobo Odumase in the Eastern Region and remanded in prison custody on a provisional charge of murder.

He would reappear before the court on December 21, 2013.

The police found in the possession of the suspect Ms Nyampong’s vehicle, a television set, a DVD player, a sound system and three speakers.

The court heard that the suspect upon interrogation gave the names of his accomplices only as Emmanuel and Kofi.

He told the police that it was his accomplices who allegedly robbed and murdered Ms Nyampong and later handed her vehicle and the other items to him.

An autopsy report from the Police Hospital in Accra indicated that she had been strangulated.

Suspect 

According to a family member, the key suspect who has been arrested by the police is the son of the owner of a shop located in front of the house of the deceased.  

The suspect, a 25-year-old welder, lived with his father about three blocks from the apartment of the deceased but was arrested by the police in his home town, Krobo Odumase, in the Eastern Region, where he had gone into hiding.

A visit to the house of the deceased, located at Kotobabi Number 2, Lashibi, near Baastona in Accra, showed that a drinking spot with the name “To be a man” was attached to the concrete wall in front of the apartment. 

The suspect was said to be assisting his father in the business.

The owner of the house of the deceased was said to have kicked against the idea of operating a drinking spot at the frontage of the apartment, but Ms Nyampong allegedly defied the landlord’s advice and allowed the father of the suspect to use the place for his business.

The uncle of Ms Nyampong, Mr Sampson Nyampong, said the deceased allowed the drinking spot in front of her house “with the idea that the operators could keep an eye on her place.”

How criminal gained access 

According to a police source, the killer might have used a wooden ladder from a church building, which was under construction next door, to gain access to the house of Ms Nyampong who lived alone.

The Head of the Homicide Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), DSP Handson Hove, who inspected the crime scene, explained that the killer, with the help of the ladder, climbed the wall and landed on a mini-sized water storage facility in the house.

The cover of a rubber bowl filled with water was found broken beside the water tank, and it is believed that the killer might have stepped on it while jumping down.

There were also blood stains at some portions of the compound which the police traced to the kitchen, where Ms Nyampong’s body was found. The police suspect the body was dragged from the compound to the kitchen.

“If she was killed by more than one person, her body would not have been dragged,” one police officer observed.

An emotional Mr Nyampong observed that the death of Ms Nyampong, who was the first of five children, was a blow to the family.

He described Ms Nyampong as an outspoken young lady who was frank but very disciplined and hardworking. Ms Nyampong, he said, took up the role of catering for her mother and other siblings when her father died six months ago.

Mood at Stanbic Bank 

At the head office of Stanbic Bank, where Ms Nyampong until her death worked as a disbursement officer, the mood was somber even though workers went about their duties.

Mr Mawuko Afadzinu, Head of Marketing and Communications of Stanbic Bank, said “if you lose a colleague in a normal circumstance you are sad. But this extremely unfortunate incident makes it worst.”

He described the late Ms Nyampong as a diligent person who reported to work on time.

The Communications Director said workers at Stanbic bank saw themselves as a family, adding that “the horrific passing of a family member makes it even more difficult for us”.

He added that the incident had affected the workers emotionally and physically, but added that the company was supporting them through its internal support mechanism.

Friends on Facebook

 Some friends of the deceased had taken to social media platforms to express their sympathies.

“What a friend and sister she was. I cannot understand why death can be so cruel and go as far as laying its icy hands on queens like this. May your soul rest in peace Rosemond Nyampong” wrote Phylicia Ampadu.

Another friend, Bigilzz Naana Agyekum wrote: “Rosemond Nyampong was murdered. There shall be no peace for the wicked. R.I.P.” 

A Ghanaian living in London, United Kingdom, had replaced his Facebook profile picture with that of Ms Nyampong.

“Your departure is untimely and cruel...RIP,” said Obboh Simon Eric on Ms Nyampong’s facebook page.

Another friend, Mavis Agbakli Mawuse,  wrote, “I don’t even know what to say, Rest in peace, Rose.”

Ama Kesewa Ofori said “My classmate, what happened to her and when did this happen? I can't believe she is gone too soon. May her soul rest in perfect peace.”