Suicide isn’t just a statistic; it’s a dark place too many find themselves trapped in when life becomes unbearable. A single heartbreak, betrayal, or moment of despair can push someone to the edge.
Prince Mintah (not his real name), a 38-year-old human resources practitioner at a reputable firm in Tema, knows this feeling all too well.
In 2014, he was full of life, in love, and hopeful for the future when he met Peace Tetteh (not her real name), a young woman who had recently graduated from a senior high school (SHS) in Cape Coast. Peace had relocated to Tema to live with her mother and three siblings.
Prince, a complete novice in matters of the heart, was grateful for Peace’s patience. In her embrace, he found solace—and there he hoped to remain forever.
“I didn’t even know how to kiss,” he admitted. “She had to teach me everything.”
For nearly two years, their relationship blossomed. He loved her deeply, convinced she was “the one”. But everything changed when Prince secured a job opportunity in South Africa.
At the time, Peace needed to retake her mathematics exam to qualify for university. Prince, ever the supportive boyfriend, asked his trusted friend Paapa, a University of Cape Coast student, to tutor her.
It was a decision he would come to regret.
In March 2016, Prince left for South Africa, and their once-passionate relationship became strained by distance. While he immersed himself in work, Peace was receiving “extra lessons”—ones unrelated to math. She grew distant, rarely answering his calls. Prince assumed she was overwhelmed by stress. But when he returned home six months later, the truth struck him like a freight train.
Peace’s elder sister casually revealed the affair: “Your friend isn’t just tutoring her in maths—he’s chopping her too.”
Prince laughed nervously, refusing to believe it. When he confronted Peace, she initially denied everything, then finally confessed. To compound his anguish, she delivered a crushing blow:
“I never really liked you. I was just passing time.”
Prince’s world shattered. He pleaded with her to stay, showered her with gifts, and even planned trips to rekindle their bond—but nothing worked. Instead of remorse, Peace turned defensive, accusing him of cruelty for remaining composed.
“She said my forgiveness made her feel worse,” Prince recalled.
That was the moment he broke.
After Peace ended the relationship, Prince could no longer bear the pain. One evening, he bought an entire crate of alcohol, locked himself in his room, and resolved to drink himself to death.
“I downed 10 bottles of Heineken in a single day on an empty stomach,” he said. “I knew it would speed up my death. I kept this up for three days.”
His best friend, unable to reach him, grew increasingly worried. After days of silence, he raced to Prince’s house, found his car parked outside, and pounded on the door. When there was no response, neighbours confirmed Prince hadn’t been seen for days. Desperate, his friend summoned a carpenter to break in—where they discovered Prince unconscious on the floor.
He was rushed to Port Clinic, where doctors stabilised him. “If they’d found me any later, my heart would have failed,” Prince admitted. He spent days under intensive care to prevent another attempt.
With his family’s support and therapy, Prince slowly began to heal. After three days, he was discharged—though the emotional scars lingered.
A year later, he met someone new. Within 12 months, they married. Prince had moved on.
But fate had one final twist.
One Sunday, as he sat in church with his wife and children, he turned—and there she was. Peace had joined the congregation. After the service, she approached him, eyes brimming with regret, and asked for forgiveness.
It was too late.
“Now, she can only love me from afar,” Prince said with a smirk.
