Family members of a 45 year woman, who died as a result of gunshot wounds to her private part during the celebration of the Homowo Festival on the 15th of August 2011, are appealing to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), to revisit the case and find out why it is still pending at the James Town Police Station. She left behind two children.
All that the family of the deceased want, according to their Spokesperson, Nii Addo Mingle, is that, the IGP should ensure that justice is done to the case.
Nii Addo Mingle told The Catalyst that the Chief of New Bortianor where the incident occurred, accepted responsibility and promised to cater for the cost of the burial, upkeep of the children, make available a plot of land, and also build a two chamber and hall apartment at Bortianor Korffa as compensation.
This, the paper hinted, was agreed by all, but the family said for some years now, apart from the burial of the deceased, the Chief has refused to fulfill the other promises made to them, which are the upkeep of the two children, the plot of land and the building at Bortianor Korffa.
The deceased, Madam Frederica Palm, together with her sister, madam Priscilla Tackie, the paper gathered during the Homowo celebration, were sitting in front of their house when the Chief of New Bortianor and his entourage passed by, drumming, singing and dancing.
When they were returning, the deceased followed the celebrants in the crowd where there was also firing of musketry.
Unfortunately, one of the musketeers who were escorting the Chief was unknowingly using live ammunition instead of firing into the sky; he lowered his gun and the bullet hit Madam Frederica Palm in her private part.
When other family members heard people shouting and rushed to ascertain what was going on, to their surprise, they saw their sister in a pool of blood. She was bleeding profusely and was rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
According to the spokesman, the deceased, after receiving blood through donation, was still bleeding excessively, resulting in her death.
It was at that point that the Doctor informed them that the bullet in the gun was not gunpowder, but rather a live bullet.