The late J.B. Danquah Adu and his wife.
It has been a decade since the gruesome murder of Hon. Joseph Kofi Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah Adu, the former Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North, yet questions linger, and justice remains unfinished.
In a heartfelt message shared on Facebook on Monday, February 9, his widow, Ivy Heward-Mills, marked the 10th anniversary of her husband’s death with both remembrance and an unspoken plea for closure.
The post reflected on his enduring legacy and the pain of the family, saying, “Ten years have passed since you were taken from us, yet not a day goes by without your presence being felt in our hearts and lives.” She added that Danquah Adu lived “in service to God, your family, your constituency, and Ghana” with “humility, diligence, principle and an indelible smile.”
The statement, shared publicly by Ivy, was originally crafted as a remembrance but underscores a silent, deeper frustration as the legal process drags on without conclusion.
A Case Mired in Delays and Legal Limbo
What followed has been one of the most prolonged and convoluted murder trials in recent Ghanaian history — with adjournments, juror walkouts, and inconclusive verdicts. In late 2024, a seven-member jury delivered a split 4-3 decision on the charges against Asiedu, leading the judge to discharge the jury and order a retrial under Ghana’s Criminal Procedure Act.
Despite the retrial order, court hearings have been repeatedly adjourned, and a full legal resolution is yet to be reached. At times, the trial has stalled due to jurors’ absence and administrative challenges, amplifying public concerns about the pace and direction of justice.
A Family’s Long Wait for Closure
In her Facebook tribute on Monday, Ivy Heward-Mills spoke not just as a mourner but as a wife still awaiting the closure that justice should bring. “We will continue to honour your memory, not only in words, but in deeds that reflect the values you stood for,” she wrote, capturing the dual pain of personal loss and public frustration.
Family friends and allied relatives, including the Heward-Mills and Jones-Quartey families, echoed her sentiments, reaffirming that his memory is “deeply loved and fondly remembered.”
Yet beneath these loving words lies a question shared by many Ghanaians: After ten years, why has the legal system failed to deliver a conclusive verdict?
The government’s legal apparatus has faced criticism over the delays, with defence counsel at times questioning investigative quality and procedural handling.
As another year begins, the family — and the nation — awaits movement in a case that once promised answers but has instead become a decade-long reminder of unfinished justice.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com