- Daniel Asiedu has refuted any connection to the killing of JB Danquah
- Asiedu's claim of being forcefully taken to a secluded area and physically assaulted by DSP Kofi Sarpong
- Coerced confession narrative
During the trial of the late MP for Abuakwa North, Joseph Boakye Danquah’s murder case, the primary accused, Daniel Asiedu, has made startling accusations in an Accra High Court.
Asiedu asserts that he was nowhere near the lawmaker’s residence on the fateful day of February 8, 2016.
According to Asiedu, he was forcefully taken to a secluded area and physically assaulted by DSP Kofi Sarpong, a musician and police officer. Asiedu alleges that under duress, he was compelled to admit to the crime in front of IGP Dr. Akuffo Dampare and SP Afia Tenge.
Asiedu, presenting his defense, narrated that on the day of the incident, he visited Agbogbloshie to engage the services of a prostitute after making a profit from selling flash drives containing music. He claimed to have spent the night with the woman and later went to Konkonsa Bar for refreshments, only to find a crowd gathered upon his return.
Upon inquiry, Asiedu discovered that a pimp named Mawuko, allegedly a police informant, was looking for him. Subsequently, Asiedu decided to report the matter to the Regional Police station after an altercation with Mawuko.
He further explained that he was escorted to meet IGP Dampare, accompanied by DSP Sarpong and DSP Afia Tenge. Asiedu alleges that during this encounter, he was coerced into admitting guilt under threat of violence.
Asiedu claims that while detained in the engine room, DSP Kofi Sarpong assaulted him with a machete handle and ordered him to confess to the crime as demanded by IGP Dampare. He asserts that he was physically abused until he complied with the demands.
These allegations, if proven true, could significantly impact the outcome of the high-profile case, raising concerns about potential police misconduct and coercion tactics during interrogation.
Below are excerpts of his cross-examination:
A. I made up my mind to report the matter at the regional police station but on my way to pick an okada the rider told me not to because he knows Mawuko‘s superior who goes by the name Adotey and that he will lead me to Adotey to report the matter to him so that he would warm Mawuko. When the okada took me to Adotey he gave me a seat and I explained him what happened and that was the first time I met Adotey who is an informant.
Adotey told me to exercise patience and that he will lead me to the regional police station to report the issue and that was the first time I went to the regional police station. When we got to the police station Adotey asked me to wait by a police officer while he goes to see the police commander. When he returned from seeing the police commander, he asked me to come with him to see the police commander so the two of us went to the police commander’s office.
Q. Tell this court what time was this?
A. We got to the police at about 5:25am
Q. In your statement yesterday you mentioned Allotey and today you mentioned Adotey. Who are they?
A. The name I mentioned yesterday is not Allotey. His name is Adotey and he is an informant. The mentioned their name to me as Dampare, ASP Kofi Sarpong and the female was Afia Tenge. I turned around and saw that Adotey had left the office and was standing outside. Officer Dampare gave me a seat in front of him and two other officers sat by each side of me.
Dampare took his phone out and decided to record me and he asked me ‘who sent you’ and I asked what was going on. He continued to ask me if one NDC man called Sorogo and one short NDC man with an Ewe name. When I was at the police station o saw on the TV that he had been arrested at his office and sent to the CID HQ. He has an Ewe name that I cannot pronounce.
ASP Sarpong took me to the Engine room and took a machete out of a fridge and hit my head with it. I was bleeding and dazed. He told me to accept whatever Dampare was telling me or else I would be killed. I stood there for a while because at that moment I couldn’t think straight. I did not answer the questions he was asking me.
Q. When you were attacked with a machete by this gospel singer police officer and you felt dizzy and did not answer his questions, what happened after that?
A. He stood behind me and slapped me from both sides. At that moment I knelt down and begged him that whatever he said I have said and I shall do as he had asked me.
Q. Why did you kneel down to beg?
A. I have not died and resurrected before so I did want to take any decision that he would regret. So, I agreed to do whatever that he asked me with the hope that I can explain and understand what they were asking from me.
He understood me and took me back to the office and sat me down. Dampare once again took out his phones and d started filming me. He mentioned those two names and asked if they were the persons who sent me? and I said yes. I was kept there from morning till about 6pm and I was moved to the BNI office at Kawukudi.
Presiding judge Lydia Osei Marfo adjourned the case to May 29 for the continuation of the witness testimony of Daniel Asiedu.
