The Akyirem village near Twifu Praso in the Central Region was last Sunday thrown into a state of grief and mourning, when news reached inhabitants of the sudden death of a final year JSS student. The deceased, Richard Arthur, alias Kwame Bio 18, was found hanging dead on a cocoa tree with a creeping rope around his neck at about 100 metres away from their village.

Arthur, until his death was a final year student of the Akyirenu No. I D/C JSS preparing to take his BECE exams, which started April 19. The body has since been deposited at the Twifu Praso Government Hospital for autopsy, whilst the matter has been reported to the Twifu Praso Police for further investigations.

According to an eyewitness account, at about 6.00 am on Sunday, the deceased informed his parents Opanin Yaw Atta and Madam Akua Mensimah that he was going in search of mushrooms. The eyewitness said at about 8.00 am that same day, when Richard was not returning the mother became suspicious and started trailing him only to find him, hanging dead on a cocoa tree with a creeping rope around his neck. The matter was immediately reported to the Twifu Praso Police. When the police was contacted, they confirmed the story but said they never suspected any foul play and were still investigating the matter.