Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ACCRA2418
2007-11-15 17:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Accra
Cable title:
PRESIDENT KUFUOR UNHURT AFTER CAR ACCIDENT
how-toVZCZCXRO7559 OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHAR #2418 3191724 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 151724Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5722 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 002418
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM GH
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KUFUOR UNHURT AFTER CAR ACCIDENT
Classified By: CHARGE SUE K. BROWN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 002418
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM GH
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KUFUOR UNHURT AFTER CAR ACCIDENT
Classified By: CHARGE SUE K. BROWN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (U) On November 14, as President Kufuor,s motorcade was
traveling from his residence to "the Castle" (the
presidential office building),a Mercedes Benz collided with
Kufuor,s armored Mercedes Benz when the presidential
motorcade sped through a major intersection. It appears that
President Kufuor was not injured in the accident, despite the
fact that his vehicle, a gift from Libyan President Mu,ammar
Qaddafi, rolled over three times, finally coming to rest on
its roof. Local citizens reportedly reacted faster than
Kufuor's security detail as they overturned Kufuor,s vehicle
and pulled him from the wreckage. Kufuor was immediately
transferred to another vehicle and traveled to the Castle.
Kufuor,s driver and aide experienced minor injuries.
2. (U) After arriving at the Castle, Kufuor was examined by
his doctor and deemed to be in good health. Kufuor delivered
a short address on Ghana television late yesterday afternoon
and assured his fellow Ghanaians that he was fine. He did not
suffer any visible cuts or bruises and, according to local
media reports, attended all planned meetings and events on
his schedule for November 14.
3. (C) The driver of the vehicle that hit Kufuor,s car,
Thomas Osei, had more extensive injuries and is currently in
police custody at Ghana,s main hospital receiving treatment.
Some media reports stated that Osei was intoxicated, while
other sources claim that the collision may have been
intentional. One eyewitness told a reporter he saw Osei
sitting at the intersection for two hours before Kufuor,s
motorcade passed through. According to this account, Osei
passed around two vehicles in order to ram the motorcade. The
Ghana security services are investigating all possibilities.
4. (C) COMMENT: This is the sixth accident the President,s
motorcade has been involved in since 2001. Other accidents
have killed members of the President,s security detail and
injured bystanders. While there are allegations that the
accident may have been intentional, it is too early to make
an accurate judgment. We expect that the President's security
detail to also be reinforced after this incident. END
COMMENT.
BROWN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM GH
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KUFUOR UNHURT AFTER CAR ACCIDENT
Classified By: CHARGE SUE K. BROWN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (U) On November 14, as President Kufuor,s motorcade was
traveling from his residence to "the Castle" (the
presidential office building),a Mercedes Benz collided with
Kufuor,s armored Mercedes Benz when the presidential
motorcade sped through a major intersection. It appears that
President Kufuor was not injured in the accident, despite the
fact that his vehicle, a gift from Libyan President Mu,ammar
Qaddafi, rolled over three times, finally coming to rest on
its roof. Local citizens reportedly reacted faster than
Kufuor's security detail as they overturned Kufuor,s vehicle
and pulled him from the wreckage. Kufuor was immediately
transferred to another vehicle and traveled to the Castle.
Kufuor,s driver and aide experienced minor injuries.
2. (U) After arriving at the Castle, Kufuor was examined by
his doctor and deemed to be in good health. Kufuor delivered
a short address on Ghana television late yesterday afternoon
and assured his fellow Ghanaians that he was fine. He did not
suffer any visible cuts or bruises and, according to local
media reports, attended all planned meetings and events on
his schedule for November 14.
3. (C) The driver of the vehicle that hit Kufuor,s car,
Thomas Osei, had more extensive injuries and is currently in
police custody at Ghana,s main hospital receiving treatment.
Some media reports stated that Osei was intoxicated, while
other sources claim that the collision may have been
intentional. One eyewitness told a reporter he saw Osei
sitting at the intersection for two hours before Kufuor,s
motorcade passed through. According to this account, Osei
passed around two vehicles in order to ram the motorcade. The
Ghana security services are investigating all possibilities.
4. (C) COMMENT: This is the sixth accident the President,s
motorcade has been involved in since 2001. Other accidents
have killed members of the President,s security detail and
injured bystanders. While there are allegations that the
accident may have been intentional, it is too early to make
an accurate judgment. We expect that the President's security
detail to also be reinforced after this incident. END
COMMENT.
BROWN