E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSACCRA, Ghana - Police in Ghana have arrested two U.S. nationals working as volunteers for the Peace Corps aid program in Ghana in connection with the killing of a local man who tried to rob them, police said Monday.
A police officer in the northern town of Wa said the incident happened over the weekend when they were attacked by two robbers.
One Peace Corps volunteer fought back with a knife, fatally wounding one of the assailants, the officer, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to media, told Reuters.
According to a report in the Accra-based newspaper the Daily Graphic, cited by Bloomberg, the thief had attacked one of the volunteers with a machete.
Complete international coverage from NBCNews.com
The U.S. Embassy in the capital Accra confirmed that police were investigating an incident involving Peace Corps volunteers.
"They were involved in a safety and security situation in the early hours of Saturday and the police are investigating," embassy spokeswoman Sara Stryker said.
Reuters contributed to this report.
More world stories from NBC News:
- Red Cross: Syria is now in civil war, humanitarian law applies
- Egypt seeks release of Mass. pastor abducted by Bedouin
- Clinton holds first meeting with Egypt's Morsi amid political standoff
- Afghan minister survives assassination attempt
- UN team investigates massacre in Syria village
- Surfer presumed dead in Australia shark attack
- The ghosts that haunt China's economic landscape
Follow World News on msnbc.com on Twitter
Leave a Comment:
How dare they fight back! We all know they should have at least waited till one of them was hacked up before they tried to defend themselves!
That's a retarded question. Cops have to do their job and actually investigate. Somebody got killed so they have to process the homicide with the assumption that it wasn't justified until it's clear it actually was a justifiable killing in self defense. Otherwise any random murderer just has to say "I killed in self defense" and make up some story about being attacked in order to walk away from the scene. We wouldn't want that now, would we? Unless we're in Florida, I mean.
Anyhow, hope it is as they say - they seem to be the kind of folk with good hearts, volunteering for the Peace Corp and all. If so, it's unfortunate, but it is what it is, and they'll be free soon (hopefully). Hell, in those kinds of places they're probably safer in jail for the time being, away from the risk of retaliation by relatives and maybe other unsavory associates of the guys they killed. If it turns out to have been a killing in self defense they probably won't be going back to their Peace Corp compounds or tasks in country, but will go from jail straight to the airport to avoid retaliation.
such bs if they decide to charge them we should pull out all peace corps cut all aid and unleash our seals to extract our citizens with an order to terminate any threat with extreme prejudice.
+1 ^^ johngis
johngis, Please tell me you haven't bred any offspring into the human race yet.
I shudder to think he has!
Send the seals in, please. And be fast about it!
Moron!
Another Tayvon Martin case.
"Stand your ground" run amok.
They should be locked up just like Zimmerman.
I doubt they actively pursued two Ghanians with machetes until the Ghanians decided to rob them.
"I doubt "...
Just like in the Trayvon case, you AND I don't know for sure.
Therefore, treat each the same.
I was also robbed in Accra, Ghana while in the Peace Corps. It's not that safe, and you have to take precautions when out at night. I still let them have the money instead of getting my Leatherman out. Still wouldn't have been a match against machete(s). I believe the PC's.
LOL!
It's going to be harder to recruit volunteers to help the cause if you start throwing them in jail.
If indeed the volunteers acted in self defense against "macheted" robbers, there is no way they're going to be jailed in that country. In case you haven't checked, rule of law works in that country. Don't assume xenophobic reactions just because a native has been killed by a foreigner.
It is difficult to trust any justice system when you can't entirely depend on your own.
You have to call 911 first, and report that a machete is being used to hack a Peace Corps aid worker. Then after waiting for a response and no one answers; try calling Hillary Clinton and ask for permission to defend your co-worker. Remember you're working for the Federal government and any negative action on your part can cause the Host country to ask for compensation for the victims of your actions. Peace my friends.
Sorry Mark but first you have to find a hollow log-assuming that you know 911 in drumbo bumbo-then you have to await response, which can take a while if the relay logs are either tied up (party line) or off duty.
And to your other point-compensation is probably the reason that they were detained in the first place. Hill will apologize, send a couple baskets of money, and everyone is happy.
Obummer musty be proud that HE got these kids to swallow his "work for ME for free!" He should send these kids and more volunteers like them, to Syria and Pakistan to spread the word of the king; Peace, collective living, and sharing the wealth they have with their "brothers.!"
It always some stunted moron that makes everything aboud politics and the president. Clean out your cave so you can move back in with the rest of your family.
Obama did not create the Peace Corps just like you didn't invent stupidity, but you do wear it well.
Be reasonable, they have to investigate.
Attacked with a machete, killed the guy with a knife?
That dude should be a SEAL team member, not a volunteer with the Peace Corps.
IllegalsGoHome,
Depends if that's actually what happened, that is, the volunteers were attacked by robbers with machetes. And the robbers may have actually intended to scare rather than harm the volunteers with the machetes.
or they were the crack suicide squad
I cannot believe in this day and age, living under the threat of almost certain terrorist attacks, people would question the moral and legal right and responsibility of humans to protect their lives from those who seek to destroy it.
Can anyone point out anything positive that's come out of Africa let's say in the last 50 or 100 years? Please don't start with the racist BS.
To be fair to the authorities in Ghana, they need to conduct an investigation to determine exactly what happened. This is standard stuff in every country that respects the rule of law. This might surprise some people but there really are some countries in Africa that respect due process of law.
Tony-344506, since you come across as a twit and ignorant person, let's list some positives from Africa in the last 50 to 100 years:
1. Your president's father is from Kenya
2. Cocoa beans that's used for chocolate is from Africa
3. Rubber that's used for tires
4. Mr Kofi Annan is from Africa. Do you know who he is?
5. Gold and diamonds comes from Africa
6. Copper and manganise come from Africa
7. Safaris and the magestic animals your lot can't do without is from Africa
Put the playstation away and read a book, you ignorant twit!!!!