The Ghana Institute of Architects has distanced itself from the suspect arrested in connection with the murder of two children and one other, at Abesim in Sunyani in the Bono region.

The suspect, Richard Appiah is alleged to have murdered a 12-year-old, a 15-year-old and a yet-to-be-identified man. The bodies were found in his living quarters in Alaska, near Abesim, on Friday, August 20, 2021. Richard Appiah was described as an Architect by the father of one of the victims.

According to the Institute, which cited the Police statement detailing the murder, Richard Appiah does not satisfy the needed provisions in the ARCHITECTS ACT, 1969 (N.L.C.D 357) to be called an Architect.

In a press release signed by the Honorary Secretary, Augustus Richardson, they wrote “the Ghana Institute of Architects would like to categorically state that Richard Appiah is NOT an Architect. The ARCHITECTS ACT 1969 (N.L.C.D 357), Section 10, qualifications, states: "10. Qualifications: Subject to section 11, a person is registered as an Architect on payment of the prescribed fee if that person is a member of the Institute.”

An architect, they added, is also a person who has passed the qualifying examinations in the courses prescribed or approved by the Board under the Act and completes practical training of the description and for the period prescribed by the Board.

“[An Architect] is a person who was a member of the Ghana Institute of Architects immediately before the commencement of this Act. In accordance with the laws of Ghana governing Architects and architecture, Richard Appiah DOES NOT satisfy any of the above provisions of the ARCHITECTS ACT, 1969 (N.L.C.D 357).”

The Ghana Institute of Architects stated that as such, Richard Appiah cannot call himself an architect neither can he be referred to as one.

Background

The Police in Sunyani on Friday, August 20, arrested a man for allegedly killing two children.

Twenty-eight-year-old Richard Appiah was arrested after the father of one of his victims, Louis Agyemang Junior, aged 12, reported him to the Police.

According to the Police statement sighted by JoyNews, the victim’s father, 56-year-old Thomas Adjei, reported that the suspect, who is also his stepson, had come for Louis around 5:30 pm on Friday, August 20.

However, at about 10 pm, Mr Adjei said his younger son had still not returned home.

Accompanied by his four brothers, the complainant arrested the suspect, who he believed knew the whereabouts of the 12-year-old boy and brought him to the station for questioning.

The Police, together with the complainant and suspect, then proceeded to the house where the suspect resides in the Alaska area near Abesim.

The statement revealed that the team found the deceased lying in a supine position in a room, while another murdered person was found in a different room.

During a further search of the house, pieces of flesh suspected to be parts of a different person were found in a double door fridge.

The name of that deceased was given as Stephen, aged 15 years. Parents of the other victims are yet to identify their bodies.

Meanwhile, the Police have arrested a new suspect in connection with the murder of the three persons.

The Director of Public Affairs, Alexander Kwaku Obeng, said that the two are expected to assist the Police in investigating the case.

Supt. Kwaku Obeng stated that the IGP has directed a homicide investigation team from the CID Headquarters in Accra to take over the investigation.

“The remains are being moved to the Ghana Police Service hospital morgue in Accra for forensic analysis to be done to support the investigation,” he added.

Additionally, clinical psychologists and counsellors have also been deployed to support and counsel persons affected by the murder including the families, some community members and the Police who led the search.