Driver in court for killing joggers

The Akim Oda Magistrate Court has remanded in prison custody, George Arko, a driver of a bus who ran into 120 people who were jogging, killing two women instantly and seriously injuring 18.

The deceased have been identified as Yaa Kwakyewaa, a 33-year-old farmer and mother of six and Miss Linda Ohenewaa, 19, a dressmaking apprentice. One Master Kwame Owusu, 19, is in a state of unconsciousness.

Arko, 31, driver of the bus with registration number GT 4501 Z, whose plea was not taken by the court presided over by Mr Albert Owusu Annor, would reappear on April 19.

Superintendent Wisdom Akorli, Akim Oda Divisional Police Commander told the Ghana News Agency that around 0630 hours on Sunday morning of March 18, the victims were jogging along the Oda – Agona Swedru trunk road.

He stated that when the joggers were returning from Akim Manso and reached a point near a prayer camp, they spotted two vehicles from Agona Swedru heading towards Akim Oda trying to overtake each other at top speed.

Supt Akorli said all of a sudden another vehicle emerged from the opposite direction and to avoid a head-long collision, the bus which was speeding, swerved to the direction of the joggers and ran into them.

The Divisional Police Commander said two passengers on board the bus; Mr Kwasi Amo and Madam Abena Owusua, who were thrown out sustained serious head injuries.

The victims were rushed to the Akim Oda Government Hospital, where the injured were treated whilst the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the hospital mortuary. **