The Old Order: When Torture and Testimony Were Enough

For much of Africa’s modern history, criminal investigations were built on fragile foundations. Eyewitness testimony, often uncorroborated, held tremendous weight. Suspects were frequently coerced into confessions under duress, and word of mouth could determine a person’s guilt long before any evidence was collected. In many cases, what someone was believed to have done mattered more than what could be proved.

Torture, hearsay, and rumor filled the space where scientific procedure was absent. Justice systems, especially in rural and under-resourced areas, operated in the shadow of improvisation. Police officers rarely had access to functioning forensic labs, let alone proper training in crime scene preservation.

However, in light of the Stephen Amoah case, a shift might be taking place.

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The Stephen Amoah Case: When, Where, Who, What and Why?

A powerful example of this forensic shift emerged in Ghana in July 2025 with the murder of Stephen King Amoah, an officer with the Ghana Immigration Service.

Stephen was last seen alive on the night of July 3, 2025, after leaving his residence at Ashongman Estate in Accra. His burnt body was discovered six days later on July 9 in a gutter near the GBC Satellite area, opposite Comet Estate.

The main suspect is a man known to Amoah and allegedly indebted to him. He has been formally charged with murder and remains in custody.

According to police reports, Stephen Amoah had received photos of cash from the suspect, who promised to repay a debt. Amoah left home to meet him, possibly to collect GHC500,000. He never returned. A missing person report was filed the next day.

Bright Aweh claimed he handed over the money and that Amoah left afterward. However, inconsistencies in his story and the suspicious source of the cash raised red flags. The case escalated when a severely burnt body was found and later identified as Stephen’s through forensic analysis, including DNA samples from his late mother and his son.

The motive appears to involve a financial dispute, though police believe more individuals may have been involved.

How Forensics Solved the Case

This investigation marked a significant departure from traditional police work. Crime scene officers and forensic experts played a pivotal role in unraveling the case.

At the suspect’s residence, investigators found:

• Blood stains in the living room

• Evidence of a hasty cleanup

• Fresh spray paint on the walls

• An empty can of paint used to cover up evidence
  

At a second location, about 100 meters away:

• A burnt woollen carpet

• A blood-stained camouflage cloth

• A fufu pestle soaked in blood, believed to be the murder weapon
  

Forensic teams also examined the suspect’s vehicle, which contained traces of blood. All this evidence was collected, catalogued, and sent to the Ghana Police Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis.

Initially charged with kidnapping, the suspect’s charge was upgraded to murder as the forensic evidence mounted. He is currently being held on remand and is scheduled to reappear in court on August 8, 2025.

This case would not have reached this point without forensic science. Years ago, it might have ended in silence or false confession. Today, it is moving forward with methodical, evidence-based certainty.

Science Steps In: A New Era of Crime Scene Investigation

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Across the continent, countries are beginning to adopt forensic science not just as a luxury, but as a necessity. The transformation is happening within national police systems, independent forensic laboratories, universities, private firms, and international collaborations.

Interestingly, Uganda has established the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU)  in Jinja, a public institution focused entirely on training the next generation of forensic professionals for national service.

In South Africa, the SAPS Forensics Unit handles DNA and fingerprint analysis under difficult conditions but maintains one of the continent’s most organized systems. Ghana’s Forensic Science Laboratory, originally a small police unit in 1948, now processes chemistry, ballistics, documents, and DNA evidence at a national scale.

Kenya boasts a decentralized Crime Scene Investigation Unit and a new National Forensic Lab, while Rwanda’s Forensic Institute provides wide-ranging services from toxicology to ballistics. Uganda recently launched its own forensic sciences university, and Nigeria’s EFCC operates one of the continent’s most advanced forensic labs for tackling financial crime.

In Rwanda, the Rwanda Forensic Institute (RFI) offers a full suite of forensic services, including toxicology, DNA profiling, and ballistics. It supports both police and the justice sector with scientific credibility in court.

Private sector players like CSI Africa and legal forensics firms in South Africa support both commercial and criminal investigations. These developments are supported by regional efforts such as INTERPOL’s Project AGWE and the African Forensic Sciences Academy, which work to improve standards and training across borders.

The Road Ahead: Justice Through Evidence

Despite notable progress, significant challenges remain. Several of these were raised at the 2025 African Society of Forensic Medicine Conference, highlighting the urgent need for reform. Funding across national forensic services remains inconsistent, with many agencies operating under severe budget constraints. 

Infrastructure gaps are widespread, particularly in rural areas where access to forensic laboratories is limited or non-existent. In many jurisdictions, coordination between police investigators and forensic scientists is still weak or mired in bureaucracy, undermining the efficiency of investigations. These disconnects often result in delayed prosecutions and compromised justice outcomes.

Conclusion

Africa’s forensic awakening is not just about joining the technology train. It is about transforming how justice is pursued and delivered.

The tools are now in place to move beyond torture and testimony, beyond rumor and coercion. The case of Stephen King Amoah reminds us of what is at stake. His death was tragic, but the investigation surrounding it is proof that science can illuminate even the darkest crimes.

The journey is far from over. But the direction is clear. Across the continent, crime scenes are being treated not just as spaces of violence, but as silent archives of truth — waiting for the right eyes, the right tools, and the right questions.

And this time, the answers are coming from the evidence.