Presidential Convoy in Fatal Accident

...President escapes narrowly, but 3 Others Perish
President John Agyekum Kufuor narrowly escaped death on his return from Sekondi on Sunday when a Taxi Cab crossed the presidential convoy a few miles from the Budumburam Refugee Camp.

One person died on the spot with two others later at the Winneba Hospital while five others who were all on board the Taxi Cab and sustained severe injuries were also on admission at the hospital.

The President is however safe and has returned to his residence.

A Ministry of Information statement issued in Accra explained that President Kufuor was returning from Sekondi after officially opening the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC 2002) when the accident occurred.

Three of the President's security personnel and the President's Archivist, Mr. Ernest Youngman also suffered injuries and have since been treated at the 37 Military Hospital.

The statement explained that a taxi cab travelling from the opposite direction of the convoy, which appeared to had slowed down, after the dispatch riders and the two Police Escorts had passed it; suddenly turned sharply onto the path of the convoy.

It narrowly missed the Director of State Protocol's car and then crashed into the lead security vehicle, which went off the road.

The lead security vehicle normally rides right in front of the President's car and had security personnel and the President's Archivist in it.

The statement said "it was with great skill and presence of mind that the President's driver managed to keep his car on the road without hitting other oncoming vehicles."

Superintendent Boama Mensah, the medical officer attached to the VVIPU medical detail quickly gave first aid and took the injured persons to Winneba Hospital.

An investigation has been ordered into the incident.