Acid Attack: Woman Sentenced to 12 Years for Lover’s Death

The Koforidua High Court has sentenced 25-year-old Vera Asare to 12 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for an acid attack that led to the death of her boyfriend, Daniel Omane.

The sentence was handed down on Thursday, March 26, 2026, after the court rejected an earlier 10-year jail term proposed under a plea bargaining agreement, describing it as inadequate.

Vera Asare had pleaded guilty to manslaughter on March 2, 2026, following negotiations between the Office of the Attorney General, the deceased’s family, and her defence counsel. However, the court deferred sentencing to allow for a pregnancy test and a review of the recommended sentence.

Although prosecutors later presented a negative pregnancy test result, the judge insisted that the proposed sentence did not match the severity of the crime and directed that it be reviewed upward in line with the law before delivering the final ruling.

The tragic incident occurred on November 29, 2024, when Daniel Omane, popularly known as “Anelka,” a mobile phone dealer in Koforidua, sustained severe burns after Vera allegedly poured acid on him while he slept.

He was initially rushed to the Adweso Clinic, then referred to the Eastern Regional Hospital, and later transferred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for specialist care. Despite months of treatment, he died on July 15, 2025.

Investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that the substance used in the attack was acid, as verified by the Ghana Standards Authority. An autopsy report indicated that Omane died from complications arising from the burns.

Prosecutors told the court that the couple had been in a relationship for eight years, marked by frequent disputes and suspicions of infidelity. They had a three-year-old daughter and had previously lived together, but persistent tensions led to a separation arrangement at the advice of Vera’s mother.

Following the attack, Vera was remanded into custody but was later granted bail to care for their child. After Omane’s death, she was re-arrested and charged with manslaughter.

The courtroom was filled with relatives and sympathizers of the deceased, many wearing T-shirts bearing his image with the inscription “Justice for Anelka,” as they witnessed the conclusion of the high-profile case.