A dispute over an alleged GH¢1,500 payment reportedly escalated into the killing of 80-year-old medical doctor Dr Jesse Amuah and his 64-year-old wife, Elizabeth Esi Amuah, at Asylum Down in Accra, a court has heard.
The accused, Abraham Newton Awundok, a security guard who occasionally assisted the couple with household chores, has been remanded by the Adabraka District Court on two counts of murder.
The prosecution told the court that Awundok first met the couple in January 2026 while working for a private security company located opposite their residence. He later began helping the couple with household chores for payment.
According to the prosecution, tensions began on March 22, 2026, after Awundok completed his chores and demanded payment from Mrs Amuah. Instead of cash, she allegedly offered him toothpaste and deodorant, which he accepted, but he continued to demand the money he believed he was owed.
The disagreement reportedly continued the following day.
The court heard that at about 10:00 a.m. on March 23, Awundok returned to the couple’s residence and, after completing his chores, again demanded GH¢1,500 from Mrs Amuah.
A misunderstanding reportedly developed between the two, after which Awundok initially left the house following an exchange of words.
The prosecution alleged that he later returned and told Mrs Amuah that her alleged bad character was the reason people were unwilling to work or stay with her.
Mrs Amuah reportedly responded with insults, which allegedly angered Awundok. The prosecution said he then picked up a pestle and struck her several times on the head.
Her screams reportedly alerted her husband, Dr Amuah, who went to intervene.
Awundok allegedly attacked the doctor with a kitchen knife, inflicting several injuries to his face. He is also accused of striking Dr Amuah with a pestle and a piece of cement concrete.
The prosecution said the accused continued assaulting the couple with the concrete while they lay unconscious, eventually resulting in their deaths.
Bodies allegedly concealed in septic tank
The prosecution further alleged that Awundok fled the residence in the couple’s Nissan Sunny, with registration number GT 159-X, taking their mobile phones, an unspecified amount of money and other valuables.
He allegedly returned to the house at about 10:00 p.m. on March 24 and concealed the bodies.
According to the prosecution, he wrapped the bodies in curtains and clothes, placed them inside a “Ghana Must Go” bag and dumped them in the septic tank.
He allegedly also concealed the clothes he had worn during the attack in the tank before sealing it with cement mortar and cleaning bloodstains from the scene.
The prosecution said Awundok later sold one of the couple’s phones to a mobile money vendor at Cantonments for GH¢700.
He allegedly handed the couple’s vehicle to his sister to use for Uber or taxi operations before fleeing to Dubai on April 22.
Police investigation leads to arrest
The couple’s prolonged absence reportedly raised concerns among their family members, who reported the matter to the police on April 30.
Police investigations subsequently led to the discovery of the couple’s bodies and Awundok’s clothes in the septic tank.
The bodies were retrieved and deposited at the Police Hospital for preservation and autopsy.
A post-mortem examination conducted on May 7 established the cause of death as severe head injury and suspected assault, the prosecution told the court.
Police intelligence later led investigators to Awundok’s hideout in Dubai, where he was arrested. He was subsequently brought back to Ghana on August 30, 2026.
Suspect allegedly admits to killings
During interrogation, Awundok allegedly admitted to killing the couple and told investigators that he acted out of anger following the insults he allegedly received from Mrs Amuah.
He reportedly pleaded for forgiveness.
Awundok has been charged with two counts of murder, but his plea was not taken when he appeared before the Adabraka District Court.
The case has been adjourned to September 21, 2026.
By:Rachael Djabakie