A 38-year-old woman who allegedly stabbed her husband to death at Tatafraso, a suburb of Asante Mampong on Thursday night is to face court on Monday.

The motive behind Abigail Darkwa's use of a kitchen knife to commit the act around 11pm that day is unclear.

Earlier reports suggested that ongoing marital conflicts may have led the wife to attack her late husband, Akoto Osei Yaw, aged, 41.

The deceased served as the branch communication officer for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and was a teacher at the St Paul's Catholic M/A Primary School in the Asante Mampong constituency.

Party’s Response to Akoto’s death

The Secretary for NDC in Asante Mampong, Hudu Mumuni Yahaya, says the party was yet to come to terms with Akoto's untimely death.

 "It seems to be a family matter, so we're uncertain about the specific issue," he remarked.

Hudu described the deceased as an effective and proficient communication officer who wielded influence within the constituency.

Hudu said the passing of their colleague came as a tragic moment for the party.

Read also: Wife arrested in fatal stabbing of NDC Branch Youth Organiser

Akoto's friend's account

On Thursday, April 4, 2024, Francis Kombat was with Akoto during the night. Akoto was intoxicated at the time, so Francis had to use his motorbike to transport him home because Akoto was in no condition to go by himself.

Francis says that when they reached a particular spot where alcoholic beverages are sold, Akoto insisted on topping up, despite his intoxicated state. Francis said he had no option but to leave him there and depart.

Francis said, "Afterward, I noticed about six missed calls from the wife, but assuming they were from Akoto, I didn't feel the need to answer."

Francis went to bed as he intended to pursue other new plans the following day. "The next day, I received a call from the wife, and that's when I learned about the incident."

When Francis visited the police station, he found out that the wife, Abigail, had been in custody. She then explains to Francis what had transpired, leading to Akoto's death.

According to Francis, Akoto arrived home intoxicated, which sparked a dispute between him and his wife. The wife informed Francis that Akoto had violently pushed her head against a wall multiple times and subjected her to severe physical assault.

Recounting what the wife told him, Francis says that during the altercation, both parties engaged in a struggle, leading to the stabbing of Akoto.

"He explained, "Since one must pass through the kitchen to exit the residence, I assumed the altercation also took place there."

Akoto was transported to the Asante Mampong government hospital for medical treatment, where he was subsequently pronounced dead. The body has since been deposited at the morgue.

Abigail's reaction and response

Francis recounts that Akoto's wife, Abigail, had previously confided in him about her husband's persistent heavy alcohol consumption, which had become a source of distress for her.

She expressed concern that whenever Akoto drank, it invariably led to a turmoil in their home, with her being subjected to physical abuse.

Despite Abigail's efforts to help her husband change his behaviour, she found it futile. Francis, who was aware of the couple's situation, was invited by Abigail to intervene and offer advice to his friend.

On the day Akoto was stabbed, Abigail had told her husband that she would consider divorcing him if he returned home intoxicated. Francis mentioned that he had planned to meet with Akoto to discuss his wife's concerns, but Akoto was displeased that Abigail had confided in Francis about their issues.

"However," Francis explained, "Abigail informed Akoto that he (Akoto) had always shared their problems with me in hopes of finding a solution. So there was nothing wrong if she did same."

Abigail’s father, Elder Darkwa narration

According to Abigail's father, Elder Charles Nkrumah Darkwa, his daughter informed him that her husband initially grabbed a kitchen knife, prompting Abigail to attempt to flee the residence through the main door, only to discover it was locked.

 Subsequently, the husband threw the knife at her. Abigail took the knife. However, the husband rushed towards her again, resulting in a further struggle, leading to the tragic incident. "It was not intentional; it was a struggle that resulted in the accident," Abigail’s father said.

Elder Darkwa revealed that he had received numerous complaints about his son-in-law's drug and alcohol consumption, as well as subsequent physical abuse of Abigail.

"I have spoken with the husband, his elder sister, mother, and other family members regarding this issue. They hoped that he would change, but unfortunately, no improvement was seen. Therefore, whenever I received calls from my daughter, I anticipated that something had occurred," Elder Darkwa said.

As the eldest child of her father, Abigail holds a special place in Elder Darkwa's heart, leading him to take steps to safeguard her well-being by seeking to dissolve her marriage to her husband. "At one point, I allowed my daughter to take the case to DOVSSU in order to initiate the process of ending the marriage. However, she withdrew the case within a week," Elder Darkwa recounted.

He speculated that Abigail's decision may have been influenced by her love for her husband and their three children. Despite the challenges in their marriage, Abigail was unwilling to end it.

Akoto’s Family's response

The deceased's family does not reside in Asante-Mampong; they currently reside around Kokoben in Asante-Bekwai. When the incident occurred, they went to the scene to gather firsthand information.

"In our visit, we confirmed that my brother had indeed passed away. Initially, we intended to bring his body to Asante-Bekwai for burial, but we were unable to do so as the matter has become a police case," stated Akosua Fofuaa, the elder sister of the deceased, during a phone interview.

Akosua expressed her inability to communicate with her brother's wife, as she is currently in police custody. However, she characterises the incident as a common marital conflict.

"I cannot ascertain the exact details of what occurred without hearing from both the wife and husband, who are the ones able to provide a narrative of the events," she explained.

Akosua states that they hold no grievances against Abigail, and since the incident occurred, they are eager to have the body for burial.

Abigail’s condition

Abigail is currently in police custody awaiting further investigation. However, yesterday, due to injuries sustained on her face, shoulder, and leg, she was taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

The police declined to comment on the matter, claiming it has been forwarded to headquarters. However, sources indicate that Abigail is expected to appear in court on Monday, where charges will likely be preferred against her.