A Bibiani District Court has ordered the remand of a pastor and two others who are accused of trying to bury a five-month-old infant alive at a dumpsite in Abofrem, near Bibiani in the Western North Region. The suspects—Richmond Frimpong, 36, also known as “Prophet” and identified as a pastor; Beatrice Agyapongmaa, 23, a hairdresser and the child’s mother; and Emmanuel Appiah—have been placed in lawful custody. Another suspect, Donkor, a 53-year-old farmer, is currently on the run.
Frimpong and Agyapongmaa are facing charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, specifically attempted murder, with Frimpong additionally charged with attempted murder. Appiah and the fugitive Donkor have been accused of abetment of attempted murder. The presiding judge, Mr. Lord Delvin Essandoh, declined to take their pleas and denied a bail request made by their lawyer.
Chief Inspector B.O. Agyemang, who is prosecuting the case, informed the court that the baby—now under the care of the mother’s grandmother—could still be in danger and requested that the child be placed in a care facility. The court directed the Social Welfare Office to carry out a social investigation and submit its findings within five days to ensure the child’s safety and welfare.
The matter has been postponed to May 5, 2026.
According to the prosecution, the complainant, Winfred Agbah, a 29-year-old security guard and Unit Committee member in Abofrem, received a tip-off on April 10 at about 10:00 p.m. that individuals were attempting to secretly bury a baby at a refuse site. Upon arriving, he allegedly saw Frimpong, Appiah, and Donkor preparing to bury the infant, who was wrapped in cloth and being held by Appiah.
When questioned, the suspects reportedly claimed the baby had died, but after examining the child, the complainant realized the infant was still alive.
The prosecution stated that Frimpong allegedly tried to convince the complainant to allow them to continue, but he refused and instead reported them to the chief of Abofrem. Further investigations revealed that Agyapongmaa is the child’s biological mother and that the baby had suffered from a weak neck since birth. Seeking a solution, she was directed to Frimpong.
Frimpong allegedly told her the child was spiritually identified as “Nsuoba” and required ritual intervention. He reportedly instructed her to bring items such as eggs, schnapps, powder, incense, a fowl, and a cannonball stone for the ritual. After performing the rites, he allegedly assured her the child would soon die and asked her to return to Kumasi.
On April 9, 2026, Agyapongmaa reportedly returned to inform him that the baby was still alive. The prosecution said they then agreed that ending the child’s life was the best option. Frimpong allegedly asked her to leave the baby with him to complete the act and later claimed the child had died. Appiah, who was visiting at the time, allegedly helped confirm the supposed death.
The prosecution further indicated that Frimpong, Appiah, and Donkor later transported the baby to the dumpsite, where Donkor dug a grave and they attempted to bury the infant before the complainant intervened and rescued the child.
The incident was reported to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit in Bibiani, leading to the arrest of the suspects. The prosecution added that the accused admitted to the offence in their caution statements, and the police are preparing a duplicate docket to be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Department for further advice.
