President's Dispatch Rider Killed

Authorities at the 37 Military Hospital on Friday, confirmed the death of Police Sergeant Emmanuel K. Owusu, 50, one of the most experienced Presidential Despatch Riders in the country, who was involved in a fatal accident at a junction near the Air Force Officers Mess in Accra.

Colonel Joseph Aryeetey, Commanding Officer of the Hospital, told the Ghana News Agency that the rider was dead on arrival.

The Sgt. Owusu, popularly known as "Burger", was leading the presidential convoy from the Castle, Osu to the Burma Camp, along the Giffard Road when a driver of a blue Mazda pickup ran into his motorbike from a minor road from behind the El-Wak Stadium.

President Agyekum Kufuor was on his way to inaugurate the Armed Forces Council and address a durbar of the personnel when the accident occurred. The body has been deposited to the 37 Mortuary.

Police Superintendent Victor Tandoh, Commanding Officer of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit, expressed his disgust at the scorn shown by drivers at the sound of siren.

"Drivers should learn to respect the siren when sounded and give way to whoever is approaching as it indicates the approach of an important personality."

Superintendent Tandoh called for a review of the law pertaining to punishments meted out to traffic offenders and suggested that the courts should endeavour to impose stiffer punishment.