Key Points
- Ishmael’s father recalls his last moments with his son.
- The tragic loss led to emotional and financial struggles for the family.
- Nicholas Kini, the main suspect, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The father of 10-year-old Ishmael Mensah Adellah, who was killed by his friends in Kasoa in 2021, has shared the emotional toll of losing his son. Speaking in an interview on Kofi TV on November 22, 2024, he described the devastating moment he learned of Ishmael’s death and how it has upended his life.
A father’s last moments with his son
The grieving father, a worker with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), recounted how Ishmael often pleaded for him to visit due to his busy work schedule in the Oti Region. During an Easter break in 2021, he finally made the trip to Kasoa to see his family.
“Ishmael had been asking me to visit because I couldn’t always come home. When I arrived, I woke him, and we had breakfast together. I asked him to learn in the hall while I rested. Moments later, my wife woke me, screaming that someone had killed Ishmael,” he said.
Rushing to the scene, he found his son’s lifeless body. “When I saw him lying on the floor, I wanted to lift him, but they told me it was a police matter and I couldn’t touch him. It broke me,” he shared.
The aftermath of tragedy
According to a report by Ghana Web, the father revealed that Ishmael’s death deeply affected him and his family. He struggled to cope with the loss, which also took a financial toll.
“My business collapsed while I followed the court proceedings. I owe GH₵180,000 now, and my wife has been supporting me. I even considered ending my life, but my youngest daughter found me in time,” he admitted tearfully.
He also remembered Ishmael’s kindness, recalling how his son often shared food with a friend from a struggling family.
Background of the case
Ishmael was killed in 2021 by Nicholas Kini, who was accused of attempting a money ritual. Kini was sentenced to life imprisonment in October 2024 by a High Court in Accra. A second suspect, who was 15 at the time of the crime, has been referred to juvenile court for sentencing.
The father’s story underscores the lasting trauma caused by the loss of a loved one and the broader societal impacts of such tragic incidents.
