Tribunal Panel Member Charged With Murder

Techiman (Brong Ahafo) 21 May, '98 A 60 year-old chemical seller and panel member of the Kintampo Community Tribunal, has been granted bail in the sum of one million cedis with one surety to reappear on May 29 for allegedly causing the death of one Mr. Kwadwo Adjei a carpenter.

James Yaw Donkor pleaded not guilty to negligently causing harm and practising medicine without lawful authority. Prosecuting, inspector Mary Asunta of the Techiman police told the tribunal chaired by Mr Justice Nicholas Abodakpi, that in October 1997, the deceased had a tooth ache and visited Donkor, who claimed to be a dentist. The prosecution said Donkor, a retired warrant officer of the Ghana Army, extracted the tooth of the deceased after which she developed some complications. Adjei was rushed to the Kintampo government hospital.

Inspector Asunta said the condition of Mr Adjei deteriorated and was, therefore transferred to the Sunyani government hospital where he died. The prosecution said a search conducted earlier at the accused premises uncovered a dental cerfificate issued to him in 1996 as a dental assistant.

A follow up to the Regional Dental Departmet revealed that Donkor was neither qualified as a dentist nor a registered member of the Dental Association of Ghana. gri