The timely intervention of security personnel saved the Bank of Ghana (BoG) from losing GH¢60.5 million in a fatal accident involving one of its bullion vans and a tanker truck at the outskirts of Techiman in the Bono East Region, which also claimed one life.
The van, with registration number GV 88-13, was transporting the said amount from Tamale to Kumasi when it was involved in a head-on collision with the tanker, with registration number DP 4222 E 2019, which was in transit en-route to Burkina Faso.
The BoG van was badly damaged during the accident, as a result of which the cedi notes were scattered at the scene and in the nearby bush.
Police briefing
The Techiman Divisional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Division (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, ASP Andrews Kofi Okonengye, told the Daily Graphic that the driver of the tanker truck, who was identified as Yusif Ousmane, died during the accident. However, the driver of the BoG van, Williams Asare, and a Currency Officer, Frank Baah, who sustained various degrees of injuries were initially sent to the Techiman Holy Family Hospital for treatment.
According to ASP Okonengye, the accident occurred at a section of the Techiman-Kumasi road between the Techiman Senior High School and the Police Divisional Headquarters.
“The Bullion Van was badly damaged beyond repairs, making all the cedi currency notes being transported scattered at the scene”.
Rescue mission
ASP Okonengye explained that the Techiman Divisional Police personnel, led by the Bono East Regional Police Commander DCOP, Kwadwo Djan-Kyere, rushed to the scene and blocked both sides of the road to vehicular and human traffic.
He stated that fortunately, the police and military advance party of the Vice President, Dr Mahamadu Bawulia, on their way to Wa suddenly appeared at the scene and joined their colleagues to rescue the victims and assisted in recovering the money which were scattered on the road and in the nearby bush.
ASP Okonengye explained that the unspecified amount of money recovered was earlier sent to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Techiman, for safe keeping by the Bank of Ghana officials while the road was finally cleared for vehicular movement at 15:45 p.m.
Asked how the police got to know about the amount being transported by the BoG Bullion Van, he explained that the police was briefed by the officials of the bank and security escorts accompanying the van.
ASP Okonengye stated, however, that at 6.40 p.m., the BoG arranged for the recovered amount to be conveyed to Kumasi while the two injured BoG staff were also transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, for further treatment.
