The Ada West District Court has sentenced Esther Puplampu and her accomplice, David Nomotey Nartey, for a brutal machete attack on Puplampu’s ex-lover, Clement Gator Ackwerh, a farmer from Hwakpo.
Interestingly, David Nomotey Nartey was recently released from remand where he was sentenced over another land case.
Four years after the assault, the court, presided over by Her Worship Victoria Akua Ghanasah, found the pair guilty of causing harm. Each has been ordered to pay 150 penalty units and a fine of GH¢1,000 as compensation to the victim.
The attack took place on April 28, 2020, when Nartey and Puplampu, along with five others, allegedly ambushed Ackwerh on his farmland in Hwakpo.
Ackwerh sustained multiple machete wounds to his body and palm during the assault. Despite the severity of his injuries, Ackwerh managed to escape on his motorbike and reported the incident to the Sege District Police Command, where he was issued a medical form for treatment.
After examining the evidence, the court concluded that Nartey and Puplampu were responsible for inflicting the injuries on Ackwerh. The judgment was delivered in open court on Monday, August 19, 2024, and was translated into Dangme, the local dialect of the accused.
In addition to the convictions of Nartey and Puplampu, five other individuals — Solomon Nartey, Emmanuel Sabbah, Agorvor Daitey, Buer Puplampu, and Iddrisu Puplampu — who were also charged in connection with the attack were acquitted and discharged due to insufficient evidence.
After the ruling, Ackwerh expressed mixed emotions. “I am dissatisfied with the weight of the fine, especially considering the money I spent on travel and medical expenses over the past four years. However, I am relieved that the case, which began in July 2020, has finally been concluded,” he revealed.
The case’s first hearing was held on July 27, 2020, and its lengthy process highlights the difficulties victims often face in seeking justice. While the court’s decision provides some closure for Ackwerh, he remains concerned about the adequacy of the penalties imposed on his attackers.