Some reports said the body of the deceased soldier, Lance Corporal Vondee Francis Atsu, had been detained to serve a sentence after a court-martial.

[contextly_sidebar id=”mjPOUaFd0UOBgEl775aDwzjgS01ichE8″]Though investigations were carried out following the soldier’s death, a statement from the GAF said the investigations were in line with protocol.

“…investigations are conducted to among other things determine the circumstances that led to the accident with the view of putting measures in place to if possible avoid or minimize the occurrence of similar incidents. In the instant case of this Airman, it is stressed that investigations are being instituted to unravel the full circumstances surrounding the sad incident,” the statement explained.

The GAF thus said it was “inaccurate and malicious for anyone to insinuate that the body of the late LAC Vondee Atsu has been detained till it serves a sentence passed by a court-martial.”

Ebony, whose real name is Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng, was returning from Sunyani after visiting her mother who had returned from the UK, when the Jeep she was travelling in crashed into railings on the road edge of the road.

Ebony was travelling with LAC Vondee and two others, of which only the driver survived.

Following the accident, the mortal remains of the late LAC Vondee were recovered and transported to the 37 military hospital on Friday afternoon.

His corpse was formally identified by his family in line with GAF Standard Operating Procedures. Reports were that he carried out private bodyguard duties, and for that reason, the military was going to penalize him even in death.

Find the full statement below

RE: FALSE PUBLICATION ABOUT THE GHANA ARMED FORCES IN RESPECT OF THE LATE 203615 LAC VONDEE FRANCIS ATSU

The Ghana Armed Forces {GAF} has noted with deep concern the false publication which has gone viral on social media after the late Airman 203615 LAC Vondee Atsu Francis died in a tragic road traffic accident with the popular music artiste Ebony. The reports which alleges some actions taken by GAF are not only false but demonstrates insensibility towards the emotions of the rank and file of GAF and the family of the deceased Airman.

Following reports of the accident, the mortal remains of the late LAC Vondee Atsu Francis was recovered on Friday afternoon to the 37 Military Hospital where the corpse was formally identified by the family in line with GAF Standard Operating Procedures. GAF owes a responsibility to the family of the deceased Airman to preserve and produce the mortal remains for burial and funeral rites.

All military personnel who get involved in accidents are first evacuated as soon as practicable irrespective of where the accident occurred. Recent cases include the evacuation of the corpse of the Late Cpl Fletcher Carl who died in a road traffic accident on the Bolga – Bawku road, and the medical evacuation of officer cadets who were involved in a road traffic accident in the Volta Region.   After the evacuation, investigations are conducted to among other things determine the circumstances that led to the accident with the view of putting measures in place to if possible avoid or minimize the occurrence of similar incidents. In the instant case of this Airman, it is stressed that investigations are being instituted to unravel the full circumstances surrounding the sad incident.

It is therefore inaccurate and malicious for anyone to insinuate that the body of the late LAC Vondee Atsu has been detained till it serves a sentence passed by a court martial.

At this moment of national grief, we expect the public to mourn and sympathize with the bereaved families and also respect their sensibilities instead of exacerbating their pain with such a fabricated story.

The Military High Command takes this opportunity to extend their condolences to the bereaved families while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

SIGNED

E AGGREY-QUASHIE

Colonel

Director Public Relations

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ebony crash: Deceased soldier not facing court-martial – GAF appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The deceased officer, Lance Corporal Vondee Francis Atsu, was stationed at the Accra Airforce Base in Burma Camp and was not officially deployed for bodyguard duties.

Earlier reports suggested that he was acting as the bodyguard for the 20-year-old singer.

Soldier unknown to Ebony’s managers

Ebony’s management team have since denied any knowledge of identities of the driver and soldier travelling with the singer at the time of their fatal car crash at Mankraso in the Ashanti Region.

Abeiku Santana, a member of the management team, said he only knew Ebony’s friend, Francisca Nkansah Kuri, who was the fourth person in the car and also died.

Asked whether the three other individuals involved in the accident were known by the management team on Eyewitness News, Abeiku Santana said: “I do not know any driver, the car doesn’t belong to her… but I know the other lady who is a friend and a member of the team as well. I do not even know the military officer as well.”

Ebony, whose real name is Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng, was returning from Sunyani after visiting her mother who had returned from the UK, when the Jeep she was travelling in crashed into railings on the road edge of the road.

Ebony was travelling with three other people, of which only the driver survived.

Full police report on accident

On 08/02/2018, at about 23:45 hours, suspect driver Chartey Oko Pinehad, aged 29, was driving Jeep No. AS497-16 from Sunyani to Accra with three occupants on board, whilst suspect driver Mohammed Abubakar aged 48 years, was also driving KIA Grad Bird [VIP] bus with registration No. GT 3232-17 from Accra to Sunyani with a set of passengers on board.

On reaching a section of the road between Nyamebekyere and Nsuta, there was a heap of sand in the lane of the Jeep which was being used for the road maintenance, and the driver in trying to avoid running into the sand, swerved onto the opposite lane and grazed the nearside portion of the bus and plunged into the railings at the edge of the road, killing the three other occupants identified as Francisca Nkansah Kuri aged 27 years, Priscilla Opoku Kwarteng [Ebony], and Lance Corporal Vondee Francis Atsu, aged 29 years.

The driver sustained injuries and was rushed to Bechem Government hospital for treatment. The occupants on board the bus escaped unhurt.

Bodies conveyed and deposited at Bechem government hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy. Accident vehicle impounded at the station. Suspect driver on enquiry bail.

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By: Michael Ogbodu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ebony: Military probing ‘soldier bodyguard’s’ death in crash appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.