Family requests private coroner inquest

The family of the deceased driver alleged to have caused the accident involving the presidential convoy last October on the Accra-Tema motorway has requested a private inquest into his death.

According to Dr E. Owusu-Afriyie, Medical Director of the Police Hospital, Daniel Dawutey Chakitey, the driver of the Urvan mini bus involved in the accident, died in prison custody on Friday December 8.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Dr Owusu-Afriyie said: "The police would have done the autopsy by now but since the family insists on their own way we are waiting for them."

He said the police brought Chakitey to the hospital suffering from diarrhoea in the morning of December 5. Treated and discharged, Chakitey was readmitted in the afternoon in critical condition. He died three days later.

Chakitey was given fluids to restore the loss of water in his body, Dr Owusu-Afriyie said. "It will be very difficult for someone to suffer diarrhoea for more than 48 hours to survive.

"Chakitey was well, then suddenly went off. It is only a pathologist who can determine the actual cause of his death", the doctor said. Chakitey, who was standing trial with his mate, Samuel Cudjoe, for manslaughter, allegedly crossed the presidential convoy without any signal, resulting in the accident.

Four presidential guards -- Corporal Kwame Boateng, Corporal Kwabena Aboagye, Lance Corporal Kweku Ewun-Tohma and Lance Corporal Martin Kumashie-- died in the accident.