Afrobeats Artist, Theophilus Tagoe, popularly known as Castro and his female counterpart, Janet Bandu have legally been declared dead after going missing for 7 years.
This is according to the Evidence Act, 1975 (N.R.C.D. 323) which states that a person may be declared dead when he goes missing and or he is not heard from and all efforts to trace him proves futile.
Section 33 of Act titled, ‘Death after seven years absence’, reads, “where a person has not been heard of for seven years despite diligent effort whether or not within that period, to find that person, that person is presumed to be dead. There is no presumption as to the particular time when that person died.”
Castro disappeared mysteriously with a lady friend, Janet Bandu, on Sunday July 6th, 2014 during a jet-ski ride at Aqua Safari, a beach resort at Ada in the Greater Accra Region.
It was reported that he had visited the beach resort with his friend, the Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan, for recreation with some other friends.
The Black Stars captain and his brother, who were with their close pal, Castro, Samuel Anim Addo (Asamoah’s business manager) and some female friends, reportedly left Accra for Ada at the weekend where they checked in at Aqua Safari for two days.
Sources said the group later moved to another holiday resort near the Volta estuary where the hip-life artiste and Bandu hired a jet ski and began to cruise.
While cruising, eyewitnesses narrated, Castro’s lady friend who was behind the musician fell into the water and, in an attempt to rescue her, both of them allegedly got drowned.
Extensive investigations, including a search for the bodies of Castro and his lady friend along the beaches of Ada by the Marine Police personnel and local fishermen were made but the two were not found.
Some spiritualists even joined in the search, saying Castro might have gone for spiritual consultation with the marine spirit (Maame Water.)
Despite, some people also claimed Castro was still alive although there was no evidence.
After seven years, no family member or friend has been able to prove that Castro is alive as claimed by some.
Finally, based on the law, his family would be allowed to go ahead with his funeral arrangements per the law.
After that, his properties can also be shared amongst his family members using the Intestate Succession Law or a will if he ever made it.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
Writer’s email: [email protected]