The Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampre, has directed the Service's Counselling Department to provide trauma-reduction therapy and counselling to the families that lost their relatives at the hands of 28-year-old Richard Appiah in Abesim.

The Police Officers in charge of the investigations, according to the directive contained in a press release dated August 25, are to also receive psychological support from the department.

The recent development comes after the Director of Police Counselling Unit, ACP Phyllis Osei and ASP Foster Nanewortor held a counselling session for the families of Louis Agyemang and Stephen Boateng, two of the deceased, during their visit on Tuesday, August 24.

According to the press statement signed by Ag. Director-General of Public Affairs, ACP Kwesi Ofori, "this was held with all family members and neighbours who were present."

"Private counselling sessions were later held with parents, siblings and some key immediate family members who were adversely impacted by the murder," it added.

Meanwhile, the police in its investigations have located the murder weapon - two sharp cutlasses with bloodstains used by Richard Appiah and also the location where the suspect buried the intestines of one of his victims.

The police report revealed that "the intestines were buried in a cocoa farm at Abesim, which the Police have since exhumed for pathological analysis and forensic examination in Accra."

A septic tank and other places of concern at the scene were also examined.

Following these findings, the Police Administration is assuring the "public, especially the affected families and the people of Abesim, of a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Background

Richard Appiah was picked up by the police on Friday, August 20, after Louis Agyemang Junior, aged 12, and another murdered person were found in his room.

This was after the father of Louis Agyemang reported Richard to the Police for coming for his son, who is also a step-brother to the suspect.

The police then proceeded to the house where the suspect resides in the Alaska area near Abesim where they found Louis lying in a supine position in a room.

During a further search of the house, pieces of flesh suspected to be parts of another 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.