A police officer, identified as Constable Prince Amoah, has died at Kwawu, a community in Enchi-Kwawu in the Aowin Municipality of the Western North Region, while he was crossing a bridge with a police patrol vehicle but the bridge collapsed and the vehicle fell into the river.
According to reports, the other colleagues of the deceased, Constable Martha Ansah and Constable Bright Adinkrah, along with service driver Corporal Frederick Cobbinah, were rescued after their vehicle was submerged in an abandoned mining pit at a” galamsey” site in Kwawu, in the Aowin Municipality of the Western North Region.
The police personnel were on duty as part of the Divisional Task Force team and were responding to information about three motorbikes with suspicious bag-packs.
The motorbikes failed to stop at a snap checkpoint, prompting the patrol team to give chase.
During the pursuit, the team encountered an improvised wooden bridge over a river close to an abandoned mining pit.
The service vehicle, with registration number GP-2694, got stuck on the bridge, which subsequently collapsed when the driver attempted to reverse, causing the vehicle to plunge into the river.
Rescue efforts were initiated immediately, with divers recovering the body of Constable Prince Amoah.
The rescued individuals, Constable Martha Ansah, Corporal Frederick Combination, and Constable Bright Adinkrah, were rushed to Kwawu Health Centre for treatment.
The body of the deceased has also been deposited at the same hospital morgue.
The damaged service vehicle and missing service rifles were recovered from the scene and have been secured.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing, with authorities seeking to determine the actual cause of Constable Prince Amoah’s tragic death.
The Enchi District Police commander and other law enforcement officials visited the scene, while the regional commander and the regional crime officer later inspected the victims at Samatex Hospital.
Some residents said this is the second time a police vehicle from a ”galamsey” site has fallen into the river.
Meanwhile, police have commenced investigations into the unfortunate incident.
