Double tragedy hits Limann family.

One of the vehicles, in the convoy carrying the mortal remains of former President, Dr. Hilla Limann was involved in an accident in the early hours of today in a village called Kaldeso in the Brong Ahafo region, 100 metres from Tamale. Mrs. Fulera Limann, the widow and three other passengers sustained various degrees of injury. Mrs. Limann sustained injuries on the shoulder and right arm and the three women sustained injuries on their chest. All four are under observation for 24 hours at the Regional hospital, Tamale. The two were Mrs. Nabila Williams, of the home science department of the University of Ghana, and also wife of Dr. Nabilla Williams, former minister in Limann's government, Hajia Gbadamoshi, wife of Alhaji Rahimu Gbadamoshi, former director of the Ghana Education Service, and an alder sister of Mrs. Limann whose name is not immediately available. The driver, Nsiah Mensah, escaped unhurt. The accident happened when the landcruiser on which they were travelling in a convoy for the burial of Dr Limann at Gwullu in the Upper West Region, swerved off the road in an attempt to avoid a cyclist. The vehicle somersaulted, landed on the side of Mrs. Limann and dragged along for about 50 metres before coming to a halt. The landcruiser was believed to have been loaned to the planning committee of the funeral by Alhaji Asuma Banda, businessman and politician and onetime chairman of the Peoples National Convention party founded by Dr Limann. Dr Issa Egala, chairman of the funeral planning committee who briefed our correspondent at the hospital said Mrs. Limann sustained lacerations on the right shoulder and arm as well as a deep cut on the right hand. She underwent surgery immediately. The others are undergoing X-ray examination to determine the extent of injuries. All of them are responding well to treatment. They could walk and move their arms and will be kept at the hospital for 24 hours as a precautionary medical measure. Dr Egala is among the entourage going to Gwollu for the burial. He rushed to the hospital on seeing the accident. The entourage which started its journey to Gwollu from Accra yesterday stayed overnight in Kumasi where a wake was kept before being driven slowly through some major towns in Brong Ahafo including Sunyani. Taking off from Kumasi at dawn, the entourage entered the Brong Ahafo region in the early hours of the morning and drove slowly through Sunyani, Techiman and Kintampo to enable people to pay their last respects to Dr Limann. It was heading towards Tamale where another funeral ceremony is being planned when the accident occurred. There were sorrowful scenes as mourners who rushed to the scene burst in tears. Sibi, one of the daughters of the Limanns wept uncontrollably when she saw her mother lying on the ground with blood oozing from her arm. Her brother Dani embraced her in a consoling gesture. Sympathizers had to break through the windscreen to get the victims out. Mrs. Nabila Williams who seemed to be in a better shape kept saying "please lift me up", "don't step on the roof, don't turn the vehicle you will hurt us". The cyclist was nowhere to be seen in the mist of the confusion. Meanwhile, the Ghana Airforce has put an aircraft on standby to convey Mrs. Limann and the other injured persons to Accra should the need arise.