When Martha Karikari Asiamah felt a harsh substance on her face and body four years ago, she screamed in pain. Her skin, she said, was literally boiling and melting away, and to her dismay, the cause was acid.
Now 23 years old, Ms. Asiamah has undergone 14 surgeries, including skin grafts, nine eye surgeries, neck contracture release surgeries, and eyelash removal every three to four weeks.
The suspects, her ex-boyfriend Prince Amankwah and a man from her neighborhood named Bobo, have been on the run, with the police making no headway in bringing them to justice.
In a recent interview with The Mirror in Accra, Ms. Asiamah recounted how her dream of becoming a lawyer had been shattered by a devastating incident. She strongly believes the attack was orchestrated by her ex-boyfriend after she refused his suggestion of entering into a blood covenant with him.
Physically disfigured, Ms. Asiamah now suffers from poor eyesight, a burning sensation in sunlight, mounting medical bills, and the need to conceal her appearance behind nose masks to avoid attention and ridicule.
Her attackers, including her ex-boyfriend, remain at large with little progress made by the police in apprehending them. Despite her ordeal, sharing her story marks a crucial step towards healing and raising awareness about the perils of domestic abuse and the urgent need for effective law enforcement.
With support, Ms. Asiamah hopes to pursue her dream career, start a family, secure funding for reconstructive surgery, and ultimately see justice served against those who harmed her.
She recounted how he monitored her every move, isolated her from friends, and regularly hacked into her social media accounts to harass her male friends.
Feeling trapped by his actions, Ms. Asiamah eventually decided to end the relationship, which angered Prince deeply.
“He harassed me, accused me of seeing someone else, and even changed my phone number so only he and my family could reach me,” she remembered.
She also recalled how Prince once broke into a male friend’s home at 1 a.m., confiscated his phone, and deleted her contact information and photos.
The harassment reached a peak when a boy from their neighborhood delivered a mysterious package to her home—a local savings box and an empty spray bottle—which left her feeling threatened.
“It didn’t have an address, and I was baffled by its meaning. I called Prince multiple times, as well as family members and neighbors, trying to figure out where it came from,” she recounted.
A week later, on the evening of January 27, 2020, Ms. Asiamah received a call from Prince asking about her whereabouts after she had gone out to buy noodles from his mother’s provision shop.
She recounted how moments later, her grandmother asked her to check the television antenna in the backyard, and as soon as she went downstairs, someone suddenly threw acid on her.
“My body started melting, and I screamed as the attacker fled. Sadly, my grandmother rushed out to help and slipped in the acid, burning part of her body as well,” she said.
In the aftermath, Ms. Asiamah spent the first two weeks hospitalized. Initially, Prince appeared supportive, acting like the perfect gentleman and even assisting with police investigations.
During her recovery, she overheard a conversation between Prince and Bobo, where they discussed their involvement in the attack for GH₵100. She recalled that Bobo was the same person who had delivered the mysterious package.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t report him in time because I couldn’t speak, and the doctors had to keep my eyes stitched shut for 10 months. By the time I could communicate again, he had already fled,” she explained.
The lack of progress in the police investigation has been disheartening,” she expressed. “I feel like they are not taking it seriously, perhaps because I am not well-connected.” The case is currently under the jurisdiction of the Kumasi Central Police Station.
She further alleged that Prince’s mother, still residing in Atonsu, may know his whereabouts but has refused to cooperate, even when previously questioned by the police.
When contacted, the Chief Investigative Officer handling the case requested our reporter to submit a letter to the Regional Police Commander before divulging any information. Despite doing so, there has been no response yet.
The situation highlights the challenges and frustrations faced by families in such cases, where cooperation and timely action from authorities are crucial.
She expressed, “Based on my research, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America offer options for reconstructive surgery. However, I require approximately USD 50,000 to proceed.”
Her primary goals include correcting her eyes to permanently prevent eyelash interference, addressing issues with her nose and lips, and undergoing additional contracture release surgeries around her neck and chest.
“This surgery will greatly improve my quality of life, allowing me to return to school and enjoy my passions, such as music, sketching, and spending time with friends,” she emphasized.
Ms. Asiamah also mentioned that she has managed to raise some funds through donations towards her treatment.
