Excavator kills woman, 71, at Adansi Asokwa

A 71-year-old woman was killed when she was trapped under an excavator that was clearing a path for a road construction at Adansi Asokwa, in Ashanti Region, last Friday. 

The excavator was said to be clearing path, during a demolition exercise to construct a road, when it developed a fault and rammed into the house of the deceased, Maame Ama Hawa who was said to be preparing fufu at the time, and got trapped under one of the tyres. 

Eyewitnesses told the Ghanaian Times that, the Police put in a lot of effort to move the excavator and rescued the old woman, but she died before they could do so.

The Ghanaian Times gathered that some personnel from the district assembly embarked on a demolition exercise in the area that day, to clear the path for some town roads, and the house of the deceased was affected.

A relative alleged that they had not been given any prior notice to vacate the house and claimed the house was not close to the road, adding that they pleaded for time to look for a new place, but the personnel did not listen to their plea and left, only to return later to start the demolition.

Superintendent F. Otchere, Adansi Asokwa District Police Commander, confirmed the incident claiming preliminary investigation indicated that, while clearing the area, the engine of the excavator stopped working and because it was on a hill, “it reversed on its own, ran into the house and trapped the old lady beneath it.”

He said the two people who were on board the excavator were arrested, but had been released on police enquiry bail.

FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI