Tragic Accident in Twifo-Ahyire: Boy, 8, Accidentally Shoots Brother

The unthinkable happened in Twifo-Ahyire of Twifo Atti-Morkwa District of the Central Region, as an eight-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his brother, Mawuko, who was twelve years old. This tragedy brings great awareness and a renewed sense of responsibility for firearm safety, especially when there are children in that home.

Events that led to this sad accident started when the father of these children, Samuel Hegbige, otherwise known locally as "Sakora," came back from a day's farm and hunting work. In a moment of carelessness, he left his gun in their living area. It was at this most vulnerable moment that the young boy, most likely ignorant of the dangers associated with the weapon, picked it up and, playing with it, pointed it at Mawuko, who was sitting down and eating. The moment then rapidly escalated, in that within a split second, the child inadvertently pulled the trigger and caused such a sad, tragic loss that has left the family and community in shock.

The police arrived at the scene and, in the course of investigations, arrested Hegbige, led by the District Police Commander of Twifo Praso, Superintendent Charles Addai Boateng. The eight-year-old was interrogated but released to his family, showing how dicey a situation this is with a combination of a child's curiosity and the dangerous irresponsibility of grownups.

This incident is a grim reminder now of how guns should be kept and the reason one should make children aware of the hazards related to them, as investigations are still underway. Safety now needs to be emphasized within the family to avoid such heart-wrenching tragedies in times to come.