Police investigators believe a burnt body recovered from an abandoned vehicle along the Legon Bypass in Accra may be that of missing car dealer Theophilus Ashitey Armah, who was last seen on April 6, 2026.
The remains were discovered at Adamafio Link, off the Legon Bypass road, inside a torched vehicle. Authorities say the extent of the burning made visual identification impossible, prompting a forensic-led investigation.
At a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Lydia Yaako Donkor, said DNA testing had become central to confirming the identity of the deceased.
“Due to the severe burns sustained by the deceased, visual identification could not be conclusively established. Consequently, DNA samples have been obtained from the deceased’s mother for forensic analysis,” COP Donkor said.
The CID has since launched a full murder investigation. Officers suspect the victim was killed before the vehicle was set on fire in an apparent attempt to erase evidence.
According to the CID, a close friend and neighbour of the missing dealer, identified as Wisdom Tetteh, was arrested on April 30, 2026, in connection with the case. He was later apprehended in Togo through an INTERPOL-assisted operation after allegedly trying to sell the victim’s mobile phone.
“He was subsequently handed over to the Ghana Police Service at the Aflao Border and conveyed to the CID headquarters,” in Accra, she stated.
Investigators allege that the suspect lured the car dealer to his residence under the guise of a vehicle transaction before attacking him.
Preliminary “investigations established that on April 6, 2026, the suspect lured the deceased to his residence under the pretext of a vehicle sale, attacked him, and inflicted head injuries,” COP Donkor said at the press briefing.
Police further allege that the suspect sold the victim’s Hyundai Elantra for GH¢170,000, receiving an initial GH¢80,000 payment.
She said investigators believe that “on April 7, 2026, the suspect allegedly transported the body to Adamafio Link, removed the vehicle’s number plate, and set both the vehicle and the body ablaze in an attempt to destroy evidence. CCTV footage, however, captured the suspect at the scene,” she said.
The suspect was arraigned on May 5, 2026, and remanded into custody to assist ongoing investigations.
Police also confirmed that another individual linked to the case, whose vehicle was allegedly used in transporting the body, has been granted police enquiry bail and is cooperating with investigators.
“The neighbour whose vehicle was allegedly used in transporting the body has been granted police enquiry bail and is assisting with investigations,” she said.
Authorities say the investigation remains active as forensic analysis and other inquiries continue.
