Coin-Changer, 70, Dies Of Shock

TO a 70-year-old pensioner, Alfred Donkor, being detained in a police cell or prison was the last thing that should happen to a decent looking man like him.

So when an Accra lawyer reported him to the Striking Force in Accra for selling Ghanaian cedi coins, he felt the end of his life had come.

Mr. Donkor, a friend, George Ansong and an accomplice, Hanna Ofosua, were detained for two hours but he was so scared and never of himself even after his release to report back three days later.

He collapsed a few hours after his release and died while being rushed to the hospital two days later.

He was said to have told his colleagues that he was afraid to be jailed and it would be better for him to die than to go to prison.

Narrating the incident to the 'Spectator,' Mr. George Ansong, 80, who also trades in the local currency business, said that on Saturday, June 10, at about 9 a.m., the lawyer approached Mr. Donkor at the Kingsway area in Accra with ў5000 note to ask for smaller denominations but he told him that he had none.

The lawyer, who became furious, promised to come back to teach him a lesson for refusing to change the money for him.

Mr. Ansong said the lawyer returned with a policeman after about 70 minutes and arrested both of them and Madam Hannah Ofosuaa for selling local coins which he claims is illegal and, quoted the law.

He said the lawyer claimed that they were making illegal profits without paying taxes and, therefore, should be punished.

Mr. Ansong said the three of them were detained at the Police Station for two hours and asked to go home and report back the next Monday.

He said that relatives of Donkor, who are resident at Agbogbloshie in Accra, informed him that he had died on Monday.

Giving details, Mr. Ansong said the lawyer who frequents the Adjabeng court had persistently harassed them although there are many others including the youth selling coins across the country.

He said because they had no jobs, they decided to trade in the local currency to make a living.

“We have stopped the job because if the lawyer sees any of us operating, he would make a mess of the situation,” he quipped.