A retired pastor of the New Covenant Apostolic Church, Michael Ahiago, has allegedly committed suicide by hanging, at Akatsi, in the Volta Region.
The deceased, believed to be in his early 70s and father of five, was found hanging from a mango tree in front of his house Wednesday morning at about 530am.
Mrs Beatrice Ahiago, the widow, who briefed the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the incident, explained that her husband left home unnoticed at dawn, while she was preparing porridge for sale.
She revealed that he was at home with the family before the unexpected act occurred without any suspected sign of depression.
“I got up this dawn to prepare porridge for sale without having any knowledge of my husband’s departure from home until we were told of the incident,” MrsAhiago said.
Apostle Paul Gidigasu, the General Secretary of the Apostolic Vision Church International, who rushed to the scene, said Ahiago, until his demise, was an active member of the Akatsi Senior Ministers Association.
Apostle Gidigasu, however, could not establish what led to the tragic incident, saying “we are encouraging the widow and the family to be strong in the Lord in these difficult times.”
The GNA, at the time of visiting the crime scene, saw scores of residents, including church members, chiefs, and pastors, at the deceased’s house, to catch a glimpse of what happened.
Mr Edward Doe Adade, the Assembly Member for the Area, said the death of Ahiago was surprising, adding “we saw some notes by the deceased, but the police will do their work regarding the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
However, some eyewitnesses GNAspoke to said they did not suspectany foul play.
Michael Ahiago, retired from pastoral work in 2021 at the MafiKumase Branch of the New Covenant Apostolic Church, in the region.
The body has since been deposited at the St Paul’s Hospital Morgue by the Akatsi Police, awaiting further examinations.The leadership of the church is yet to comment on the matter. —GNA
