<<Print>>One person has died while four others are in critical condition after drinking a local gin, popularly known as akpeteshie.
The deceased, Ogbolor, 32, and three others, were offered the drink by one of the victims, Maame Akosua, after they had helped her in gathering firewood for her business at Gambia Village near Prestea in the Western Region.
Police suspect the drink might have been laced with an aphrodisiac.
The four are currently on admission at the Prestea Government Hospital while the body of the deceased has since been deposited at the same hospital.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the District Crime Officer, ASP Emmanuel Nwinsori of the Prestea Police Command said last Friday, Akosua’s husband contracted the four to fetch firewood from her farm to the house. He said after the day’s work and in a show of appreciation, Maame Akosua entered her room and brought out the bottle containing the drink allegedly prepared by her husband who had travelled.
As tradition demands, Maame Akosua first poured a quantity for herself and after an act of libation, drunk the rest. The drink, ASP Nwinsori said, was passed on to the next person and it went round until the four had served themselves with quantities that met their abilities.
He said before Maame Akosua could come out with the payment for their labour, the five, including herself, started complaining of abdominal pain. The district crime officer said sensing danger, onlookers quickly rushed them to the hospital, but Ogbolor was pronounced dead.
According to ASP Nwinsori, preliminary investigations revealed that the akpeteshie mixture was prepared by Maame Akosua’s husband who is reputed for brewing the local gin in the Gambia Village.
Although Maame Akosua’s husband had travelled at the time of the incident, ASP Nwinsori expressed hope that since the wife was in a critical condition, they expect that the husband would rush to the hospital on his return and help police in their investigation.
He said the identities of the other three victims were yet to be established.