It has emerged that the teacher of Salvation Army Basic School in Asiakwa in the Eastern region, was killed because of a row over snails.

This is contrary to media reports that George Somuah Bosompem; a teacher of the Salvation Army Basic School in the Eastern Region, was beaten to death by some youth in the area for warning them to desist from defecating on the school compound.

A colleague of the deceased, also a teacher in the same school (who wants to remain anonymous), has contradicted that account.

Speaking to Joy News’ Maxwell Kudekor Tuesday, he said that the attack on the Religious and Moral Education teacher was a revenge attack following a dispute over snails.

According to the narration, the school has a snail farm which was encroached by some irate youth in the community who use the school compound for nefarious activities such as wee smoking and illicit sex.

Upon police complaints, arrests were made but instead of prosecutions some opinion leaders intervened and the suspects were made to pay for the cost of the snails stolen from the farm.

According to the account, during the assault on their colleague, the assailants revealed he was being punished because his school surcharged them for the stolen snails.

The deceased who was initially admitted to the Kyebi Hospital was later transferred to the St Joseph's Hospital in Koforidua.

Meanwhile, the six accused persons are scheduled to reappear in court today.

Five of them were put before the Kyebi District Magistrate Court and were remanded into police custody to reappear on May 14.

The five are facing provisional charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder. They are Richard Amaning, 18; Mireku Emmanuel, 17; Philip Okodie, 17; Paul Boadu, 18, and Ezekiel Boadu, 19.

A sixth suspect, Aboagye Evans was picked up from his hideout last Friday.

The Salvation Army Basic School has since been closed down temporarily.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has visited the widow and has promised her government’s assistance.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, said his outfit had "...learnt with shock and disbelief the killing of Mr Bosompem.” 

“Management strongly condemns in no uncertain terms the killing of 55-year old Mr Bosompem, who has been described by his local Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) as a very calm and reserved man.”