The late Jerry Kpesenu, aka Maya, who was allegedly beaten to death in police custody at Keta in the Volta region would be laid to rest on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
The funeral arrangements include a wake-keeping which will take place on Friday, October 17, 2025, to be followed by a burial service on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Norlivime School Park in Dzelukope, a suburb of Keta.
Jerry Kpesenu’s death has been surrounded by controversy, with reports indicating that he was allegedly beaten to death by police in Keta, which sparked outrage and demands for justice from the concerned youth of Keta.
The concerned youth of Keta earlier in 2024 staged protest in demand of justice for their colleague Kpesenu. They called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The alleged beating of Jerry Kpesenu by the Keta Police has also raised speculations and allegations about police conduct and the need for accountability in such incidents.
Mr. William Fosman Doe, the Convener of the group, in press conference held at Keta-Deviame, earlier in 2024, called for swift action against all officers who were involved in the alleged assault that led to the death of Mr. Jerry Kpesenu, a landlord at Keta.
He said that the youth demanded the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. Akuffo Dampare to set a five-member committee including the families of the deceased and a youth representative in Keta to help aid in the investigation as well as requested for independent autopsy to be conducted to ascertain the cause of death.
The youth demanded also that the IGP immediately interdicted the police officers in the alleged murder case to pave the way for thorough investigation into the circumferences leading to the death of the deceased.
They gave the IGP a seven-day ultimatum to address their grievances and take charge of all funeral arrangements, but other information gathered by Ghana News Agency has revealed that such calls failed to materialise.
The late Kpesenu was allegedly tortured and arrested by Keta Police on Thursday, June 6,2024, in his residence after a complaint was lodged against him for ceasing tools belonging to an electrician, who visited his premises to fix an air condition in one of his tenant’s room.
The GNA gathered that the tenant failed to inform the deceased about plans to install an air-conditioner, while a complaint was later lodged to the Keta Police, leading to his arrest.
The deceased was later pronounced dead in police custody after an arrest was effected.
The youth have, however, staged demonstrations and poured their grievances against what they claimed to be a brutal murder of their colleague.
Mr. Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe, the Member of Parliament for the Keta Constituency, has also petitioned the then IGP for an investigation into the case and to bring the culprits to book, but to no avail.
They have accused the police hierarchy of transferring the said accused police officers who allegedly tortured the deceased to death to other areas.
As calls for an investigation into the alleged murder intensify, many are also demanding a autopsy report of the deceased.
As the residents prepare to bid farewell to Jerry Kpesenu, there is a heightened sense of awareness about the incident and its implications.
Some other residents the GNA spoke to, lamented the delay in demanding justice for Mr. Kpesenu. There are calls for justice and the residents appealed to the current government and the new IGP, COP Christian Tetteh Yohunu to take charge of the case and bring perpetrators to book.
They said the incident has put a spotlight on the relationship between law enforcement and the community in Keta and the demand for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of Jerry Kpesenu’s death should be treated urgently.
The deceased was 43.