Asantehene's convoy involves in accident

Sunyani (B/A) Nov. 27 GNA - Barely 24 hours after the convoy of Vice-President Aliu Mahama got involved in a motor accident that claimed the lives of three security details, another accident involving the convoy of Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has occurred in Brong Ahafo.

An eyewitness, Mr. Kwame Siaw, a teacher, told the Ghana News Agency on telephone he was on board a metro mass transit bus when the accident occurred near Bawuah Farms at Nsoatre, off the Sunyani-Berekum road.


He said a Mercedes Benz saloon car driven by one of the sub-chiefs in the Asantehene's convoy, in an attempt to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of him veered off the road and somersaulted into the bush. The convoy was travelling to Seikwa in Tain district to attend the 15th anniversary celebration of the enstoollment of Nana Kweku Dwuma Ankoana II, Omanhene of Seikwa Traditional Area and the launch of an Educational Endowment Fund.


Meanwhile the injured have been taken to the Berekum Governemnt Hospital and are responding to treatment.


When contacted, Chief Superintendent Christian Yohonu, Commander of Sunyani Municipal Police confirmed the incident.


In another development, the four injured persons in the accident at Chiraa, near Sunyani, involving the Vice President's convoy were reported to be responding to treatment at the Regional Hospital in Sunyani when GNA visited the hospital.


They are Mr. Peter Ekpedzor, 46, driver, Mr. Awortwi Bonni Fred, 25, bondman, Mr. Edward Bediako 28 and Mr. Abdul Rahman, 35, both cameramen of Metro TV.

The names of the dead were not disclosed as the hospital's authorities said they were waiting for directives from the Vice President's office before they could do so.


Meanwhile, Barima Afari Minta II, Chief of Chiraa, has, on behalf of the chiefs and people of the area expressed condolences and sympathy to President Kufuor and Vice President Aliu Mahama and the families of the victims of the accident.


In a telephone conversation with the Ghana News Agency, the chief said the chiefs and people were really saddened at the incident and expressed the hope that all Ghanaians would console with the bereaved families of the victims who suffered in the course of rendering services to the state.


He reiterated his appeal for a re-designing of the road from Sunyani to Techiman to avoid the recurrence of such accidents and the subsequent loss of lives.


The chief noted that the nature of the road had made it accident-prone, culminating in many deaths in this year alone. Nana Afari cited that there are as many as 35 curves on the road, coupled with many hilly points and this had made it quite difficult for drivers not conversant with the nature of the road to ply on it safely.