Presidential Dispatch Rider promoted
posthumously
Kufuor mourns with family of despatch rider
Presidential out rider accident suspect faces fresh charges
Presidential Dispatch Rider promoted
posthumously
Pekyerekye (Ashanti Region) 13 October 2001 - The Police Administration has promoted posthumously Sergeant Emmanuel Kwabena Owusu, the Presidential Dispatch Rider who was killed in an accident last August, to the rank of Inspector.
The promotion, which took effect from September 1, this year, was in recognition of his dedicated service to the nation and the Ghana Police Service.
This was announced by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr George Asiamah, who is also the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, at the burial service for Inspector Owusu, one of the oldest and most experienced Dispatch Riders at his hometown Pekyerekye in the Ashanti Akim North District, on Saturday.
Among the dignitaries who paid their last respect to Inspector Owusu, popularly called "Burger" were President John Agyekum Kufuor, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, Defence Minister and MP for Manhyia, Mr Felix Owusu Agyepong, Minister for Communications and Technology.
The rest were, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister and MP for Subin, Mr Edward Osei Kwaku, MP for Asokwa West and Minister designate for Youth and Sports, General Joshua Hamidu (Rtd) National Security Adviser, Mr Ernest Owusu Poku, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Deputy Government Spokesman.
They filed past the body dressed in police uniform and bedecked with wreaths and flowers. A police motorbike, helmet and police cap was placed beside the body, which was later buried with full police honours.
In a sermon, The Very Reverend Superintendent Bosomtwe Ayensu, Ashanti Regional Police Chaplain asked Ghanaians to use their God-given talents and skills to advance the socio-economic development of the country.
He said most people have become economic liabilities in society because of their poor attitude and unfaithfulness to work. "Everyone has a mission on earth and when pursued positively could lead to prosperity for the communities, society and the nation." He added.
Rev Ayensu said the deceased contributed tremendously to his profession as a Presidential Despatch Rider whose main duties were to escort and pilot Presidents of Ghana and very important dignitaries, a duty, which he performed conscientiously for the past 30 years without blemish and therefore deserved to be honoured by the nation.
President Kufuor on behalf of the government and the people of Ghana donated six million cedis and drinks to the bereaved family.
The late Inspector Owusu, 52, was leading a Presidential convoy to Burma Camp for the inauguration of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Council on August 31, when his motorbike and a Mazda pickup collided near the El Wak Stadium. He died
on the spot.
Inspector Owusu was enlisted into the Ghana Police Service as a recruit on June 1, 1973. He rose through the ranks and was last promoted to Sergeant on July 1, 1991 until his death. He left behind a widow and six children.
GRi../
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 October 2001 - President John Agyekum Kufuor last night joined other mourners at a wake keeping for Sergeant Emmanuel Kwabena Owusu, Presidential Despatch Rider, who died in an accident last August.
Sgt Owusu, 52, was leading a presidential motorcade to Burma Camp for a function when his motorbike and a pickup vehicle collided near the El Wak Stadium. He died at the 37 Military Hospital.
Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Presidential Affairs, Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, Minister of the Interior, Lt Gen Joshua Hamidu, National Security Adviser and Mr Ernest Owusu-Poku, Inspector General of Police also attended.
Sgt Owusu, popularly called "Burger" will be buried at Dome in the Asante- Akyem district today (Thursday). He left behind a wife and six children.
GRi../
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Accra (Greater Accra) 17 September 2001 - Vincent K. Gbewornyo, a 63-year-old man, who allegedly crossed the Presidential Motorcade on the El Wak-Burma Camp road killing a dispatch rider, Sergeant E. K. Owusu on August 31 has been granted five million cedis bail by the James Town Community Tribunal.
The tribunal chaired by Mrs Elizabeth Ankomah said it was awaiting a duplicate docket from the Attorney General's Office. Gbewornyo, whose plea is yet to be taken, would reappear on September 25.
Sgt Owusu, popularly known as "Burger", was leading the Presidential convoy from the Castle to Burma Camp when Gbeworyo, driving a Mazda pickup, allagedly ran into his motorbike.
Sgt Owusu sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the 37 Military Hospital.
Gbewornyo, who has been named in another traffic offence, was alleged to have knocked down and killed one Kwesi Attah with the same vehicle at Gomoa Engleshi, near Apam in the Central Region on January 22, this year.
The Prosecution said Gbeworyo failed to assist Police by refusing to produce documents on his vehicle.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 17 September 2001 - The Independent writes that the death of
police sergeant E.K. Owusu, a.k.a. Burger, the Presidential motorcade rider,
and the arrest of Vincent Gbewornyo, the sixty three-year old suspect, is
beginning to turn a new phase, as the family of the suspect have express fear
for his life.
Mrs Cicilia
Gbewornyo, the wife of the suspect, has expressed total shock at the way her
husband who is presently on admission at the Police hospital is being handled
by the police.
According
to Radio news reports monitored by the paper last, she narrated how her husband
whose blood pressure increased at an alarming rate is chained to his bed. She
added that his blood pressure keeps rising, despite all efforts to stabilize
it.
Mrs.
Gbewornyo noted that the handcuff and other inhuman events being meted to her
dear one ever since he was arrested, indicates that the police wants justice by
fair or foul means and said "I feel the police wants to take justice into
their own hands".
She
seriously expressed the misgivings at how prisoners who were brought to the
hospital are rather not in chain. "We were in the hospital and prisoners
brought there were not in chain. Mr. Gbewornyo was not misbehaving in the ward,
so I don't see the reason why somebody with high blood pressure should be
chained to his bed" Mrs. Cecilia Gbewornyo was reported as saying.
She also
denied the claim that her husband caused another accident in January this year
near Apam and said he was only playing the role of a Good Samaritan and they
were made to bear all the expenses.
"The
police themselves presented us with telephone bill, transportation bill,
mortuary, post-mortem and even we pay all the medical bills for the deceased
and have been reporting to police"
She added;
"we were in link with them (police). I am very surprised for them to have
linked that incident to this one".
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 September 2001 - Police on Monday told the James Town Community Tribunal that Vincent K. Gbewornyo, the 63-year-old man, who allegedly crossed a presidential motorcade on the El Wak-Burma Camp road killing a dispatch rider, Sergeant E. K. Owusu on August 31, has been named in another traffic offence.
Prosecuting Inspector Michael Quarm said Gbewornyo allegedly knocked down and killed one Kwesi Attah with the same vehicle at Gomoa Engleshi, near Apam, in the Central Region on January 22, this year.
He said Gbewornyo failed to assist Police by refusing to produce documents on his vehicle.
Inspector Quarm added that the Police would, therefore, need some time to work on the two charges brought against the accused.
The tribunal chaired by Mrs Shraha Ankumah refused the accused bail saying, "the Police have brought to the tribunal's notice that they are investigating a similar offence committed by the accused and the court will prejudice Police investigation if accused is granted bail".
The tribunal ordered the Police to work on the two charges and ensure that the accused have access to medical treatment. Gbewornyo, whose plea is yet to be taken, would reappear on September 17.
Chris Ackumey, Counsel for the accused, renewed his application for bail for his client but expressed his dismay about the revelation made by the Police.
"I wonder why the Police did not charge him on his first offence but have brought this charge against him.
"We cannot just accept this new development to block our application for bail."
He prayed the court to consider his client, who he said has hypertension that kept on fluctuating everyday at the hospital. Ackumey expressed his client's readiness to assist the Police.
Sgt. Owusu, popularly known as "Burger", was allegedly leading the presidential convoy from the Castle, Osu to Burma Camp, when Gbeworyo, driving a Mazda pickup ran into his motorbike.
Sgt. Owusu sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the 37 Military Hospital.
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President Kufuor consoles widow of late
Sergeant Owusu
Accra (Greater Accra) 06 September 2001 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday said security personnel who sacrificed their lives in the interest of the nation did not die in vain.
"They sacrificed for the nation and their toil would never be in vain, death is the will of God." President Kufour said when he consoled Miss Leticia Afriyie, widow of the late Sergeant Emmanuel K. Owusu, one of the dispatch riders of the Presidential Convoy who died in a motor accident in Accra last Friday.
He said the government would cater for the widow and children. Victor Owusu, Senior brother of the deceased said the one-week celebrations would be observed next Friday during which the date for the final funeral rites would be announced.
The children of the deceased, relatives and sympathisers in the neighbourhood, who gathered at the Security flats opposite the Flagstaff House, wailed and shed tears when the sound of the siren of the motorcade heralding the arrival of President Kufuor reached the residence of the deceased.
The late Sergeant Owusu, 50, was one of the most experienced dispatch riders in the country for the past 30 years.
First Lady Theresa, Miss Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of Media Relations, Mr Ernest Owusu Poku, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other officials from the President's Office accompanied President Kufuor.
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Accra (Greater
Accra) 03 September 2001 - A 63 year-old driver, Vincent K. Gbewonuyo, who
allegedly crossed a presidential motorcade on the El Wak-Burma Camp road
killing Sergeant E. K. Owusu, a dispatch rider last Friday, appeared before the
James Town Community Tribunal on Monday.
Gbewonuyo,
whose plea is yet to be taken was refused bail by the Tribunal and remanded in
prison custody to reappear on September 10. Prosecuting, Inspector Michael
Quarm told the tribunal chaired by Mrs Shraha Ankomah that the Police have not
completed their investigation and would need sometime to do so.
"The
accused, if granted bail, might temper with Police investigations",
Inspector Quarm added.
Mr Chris
Ackumey, counsel for the Gbewonuyo, prayed the tribunal to grant his client
bail since "Gbewonuyo is an accident victim, who would need medical
attention at the hospital".
He said his
client had suffered enough shock and trauma from the accident, adding "my
client should be kept alive to assist the Police in their investigations".
The tribunal ordered that the accused be sent to the hospital for further
examination.
Sgt Owusu,
popularly known as "Burger", was leading the presidential convoy from
the Castle, Osu to Burma Camp, when Gbewonuyo, Volta Regional chairman of the
National Reform Party, driving a Mazda pickup with registration number GT 1824
ran into his motorbike.
Sgt Owusu
sustained serious injuries and was taken to the 37 Military Hospital but was
pronounced dead on arrival.
Authorities at the 37 Military Hospital on Friday, confirmed the death of Police Sergeant Owusu, 50, one of the most experienced Presidential Despatch Riders in the country.
President Agyekum Kufuor was on his way to inaugurate the Armed Forces Council and address a durbar of the personnel when the accident occurred.
Police Superintendent Victor Tandoh, Commanding Officer of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit, has 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.
GRi../
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