A quiet community at Subrinkwanta near Bibiani in the Western North Region of Ghana has been thrown into grief after a jilted young man set fire to the home of his girlfriend’s family, killing her and two others.
The suspect, Prince, a 23-year-old palm wine tapper also known as “On God,” has been arrested by police following the deadly incident.
Those who lost their lives have been identified as 19-year-old Benedicta Kudjo, her 61-year-old mother, Maame Mary Oppong, and 22-year-old Dora Adoma Kudjo.
The tragic deaths have left relatives and neighbours struggling to come to terms with the loss.
According to a relative of the victims, Madam Paulina, the suspect had earlier gone to the family’s house in Subrinkwanta looking for his girlfriend, Benedicta Kudjo Felicia, a student of Queen Senior High School.
She explained that the family had repeatedly warned the young man to stay away because Felicia was still in school and they did not approve of the relationship.
Despite the warnings, the suspect allegedly insisted that he loved the young woman and wanted to marry her.
The situation reportedly became tense after he issued threats during a previous confrontation.
Hours later, the family received another distressing call informing them that the house had been set on fire.
The suspect has since been taken into custody while police begin investigations into the circumstances surrounding the blaze.
