May Day: Mills salutes deceased bodyguard, pledges gov’t support

President Mills has on the occasion of the 2011 May Day celebrations, pledged support to the family of the deceased member of the presidential guard who died in an accident in his convoy on Saturday.

The deceased soldier, whose identity is not known to the public is a member of the Airborne Force in Tamale who resides at the Bawa Barracks.

Addressing workers at the parade grounds in Tamale, President Mills expressed his sympathies to the families of the seven other severely injured members of the Air born Force in Tamale who were also involved in the accident while on duty.

He promised government support to the families and called for prayers for the injured victims and the soul of the deceased.

“Let me use this occasion to say a word of encouragement to the officers and men of the (ABF), who in the course of duty sustained an accident and one of them has passed on. We want to console them especially their families and to let them know that we will do what it takes to lessen their pain. And I will ask all of you to join us in praying for the quick recovery of those who are on admission and also for the soul of the one who has been called to eternity”.

The accident occurred on the evening of Saturday April 30, when the President was leaving Sandema in the Upper East Region where he had attended the funeral of a Late Paramount Chief of the area.

The President was specifically on a tour of the Northern Region.

The seven men, some of whom sustained severe head and chest injuries are receiving treatment at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, whilst the others are receiving treatment at the Bolgatanga Hospital but will be referred to the Tamale Hospital.

Upper East Regional Minister Mark Wayongo told Citi News, the accident occurred after a motorbike rider crossed one of the military escort vehicles, at the tail end of the president’s convoy.

“There was this motorist in front of the military vehicle and it looks like he crossed the military vehicle and they tried to dodge him but it was in a curve. So he skidded off and somersaulted. These soldiers were sitting at the back of the open truck and that’s why they sustained severe injuries”.

“They were in the convoy with the President because anytime the President comes up north; the Airborne Force which takes care of the Upper East Region normally provides security cover. And when we left Sandema, they were at the tail end of the convoy. So when it happened, not many of us knew that an accident had occurred except a few cars behind us who saw them and first conveyed them to the Navrongo Memorial Hospital”.

Source: Citifmonline.com/Ghana