Mankessim Murder Case: I Charged GH¢20 For Digging Asor Botchwey’s Pit – Grave Digger Testifies In Court

Jonathan Obeng, a mason and the person contracted by Christopher Ekow Clark Quansah, Tufuhene (chief) of Ekumfi Akwaakrom and the first accused to the murder of aspiring trainee nurse, Georgina Asor Botchwey, to dig the grave in which the deceased was buried, has notified that he charged GH¢20 to carryout the duty assigned to him.

The report indicates that the mason is an in-law to the chief under trial.

Speaking as the third witness to the trial held at the Cape Coast High Court ll on Thursday, June 19, 2025, Obeng testified of digging the pit which measures two-feet in depth in a sunny Sunday morning in an uncompleted building belonging to Quansah at Asikafo Ambantem, a suburb of Mankessim in the Central Region.

He told the court, “l asked him (Ekow Clark Quansah) why a pit is being dug in the middle of a kitchen, but he in reply answered that someone has cast a spell on him and had to bury some charms in the pit to protect himself,” the mason said.

According to him deduced, “l charged GH¢20 for digging the pit, but he (Ekow Clark Quansah) willingly opted to pay me GH¢30 instead,” he emphasized.

The trial, presided over by His Lordship John-Mark Nuku Alifo in an open court, saw all parties present with a cross-examination conducted on the witness by these parties.

Jocelyn Agudey Esq., a State Attorney holding brief for Vincent Nyineku, the Chief State Attorney for prosecution, Michael Monnie Esq., for Christopher Ekow Clark Quansah, the first accused, and Roland Hamilton Esq., for Michael Darko, a self-styled pastor and the second accused.

The witness in affirmation said to know the first accused (Clark Quansah), but denied knowledge of the second accused (Darko) who he told the court to be seeing once-a-while at Ekumfi Akwaakrom, where he resides.

Obeng prior to his position as witness to the case, was on September 28, 2022, arrested as third accused to the murder incident, but was later released in the early months of 2024 upon been exonerated of all charges levelled against him, since prosecution found him innocent of the crime.

The case which has earned immense interest by the public since its maiden court hearing in September 2022, saw its first witness in Labeni Ransford testify in court on May 14, 2025. Followed by Detective Inspector Bright Addai, the primary investigator to the case who subsequently testified on 15th May, 2025.

The court has adjourned the case to Monday, May 23, 2025, to have its fourth witness testify to the case, as proceedings continues to uncover facts and determine the truth surrounding the murder case for justice to be served.

Quansah and Darko, who stands trial for allegedly murdering Asor Botchwey at Mankessim, have earlier pleaded not guilty to the offences of conspiracy to commit murder and murder, when they appeared before the court, on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.

They also pleaded not guilty to three charges of unlawfully possessing explosives, firearms and ammunition.

 

 

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Background

According to prosecution, Botchwey, a resident of Yeji in the Bono East Region, and an applicant seeking admission into the Ankaful Psychiatric Nursing School, in the Central Region, arrived in Cape Coast, on Thursday, September 8, 2022, for interview at the school.

Upon arrival, Botchwey called Darko, who was her senior sister’s fiancé, and informed him about her presence in the region and her mission.

Darko offered to pick Botchwey after her interview at the Nursing School, and later arrived in a taxi as had been arranged.

Botchwey was taken to Pedu Junction in Cape Coast, where Quansah had parked his Benz Car, and she entered the car.

Quansah drove the vehicle to Akwaakrom, near Mankessim, seized the deceased’s iPhone and locked her in a room.

The accused went to Asikafo Ambantem, a suburb of Mankessim, where they allegedly dug a hole in an uncompleted storey building belonging to Quansah and went back for the victim.

Quansah and Darko allegedly hit Botchwey on the head with a club bottle, and she died.

The two accused allegedly took away pubic hair of Botchwey and left the uncompleted storey building.

Alfred Duodu, a soldier, and brother of Botchwey, reported the case to the police, after efforts to reach his sister proved futile.

The police had information that it was Darko who picked Botchwey at Ankaful.

When the police arrested Darko at Anomabo, he admitted to the crime.
He led the police to where the deceased had been buried, and the body was exhumed. Quansah was also arrested at Ekumfi Akwaakrom.

The accused, charged with conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder and murder and were first put before the Cape Coast District Court II, presided over by Her Worship Bernice Mensima Ackon.

Other Killings

Police investigations further establish that one Gloria Yeboah, a resident of Obokrom in Kumasi, was earlier lured by the two to Accra on June 17, 2022 on the pretext of helping her travel abroad, but subsequently lured her to Mankessim, where they killed and buried her.

 

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