Father of Central University Law Student Vows to Pursue Justice After Son’s Burial
Evans Baidoo says his son’s burial will not end the family’s pursuit of justice as investigations continue into his death.
- Ivan Baidoo was laid to rest on September 19
- His father vows to continue seeking justice
- Police officer charged with murder over the incident
The father of late Central University law student Ivan Apprey Baidoo has vowed to continue pursuing justice over the circumstances surrounding his son’s death in a motorbike crash on the Tema Motorway.
Ivan, 20, was laid to rest on Saturday, September 19, at the Rehoboth Temple of the Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry (CEM) at North Legon.
Speaking at the burial service, his father, Evans Baidoo, said the funeral would not bring an end to the family’s quest for justice.
“Many people in our society have called for justice for Ivan. Son, nothing can atone for your brutal and forced demise. Nevertheless, your burial will not in any way end my pursuit of justice for such senseless killing,” he said.
Evans Baidoo said the family would cooperate fully with the Ghana Police Service as investigations into the incident continue.
He noted that the Police had identified and interdicted an officer allegedly connected to the incident.
“I promise you that we will work with the Police Service throughout their investigations to bring the expected closure to this matter,” he added.
Ivan’s mother, Comfort Baidoo, said she was struggling to come to terms with the loss of her son, who was a second-year Law student at Central University.
She said Ivan had dreams of becoming a lawyer and making a meaningful contribution to society.
“Your death remains difficult for me to understand. The circumstances surrounding your passing are unexplained, and that uncertainty makes the pain even harder to bear,” she said.
The Resident Pastor of CEM North Legon, Rehoboth Temple, Rev. John Agyarkwa Quaitoo, also criticised the conduct of some police officers, saying their approach to policing had become reactive.
Members of the Adisadel Old Boys Association, including Ivan’s year group, gathered around his casket and sang the school anthem during the burial service.
Ivan died on August 27 after a Yango-operated motorbike he was travelling on crashed on the Tema Motorway.
According to the prosecution, Ivan had booked the motorbike from Ashongman Estates to East Legon Astroturf Park, where he was heading to play football.
The prosecution alleges that the rider, Samuel Wesley Arthur, went through a red traffic light at the UPSA intersection, prompting General Corporal Robert Katey Koranteng to pursue the motorbike.
It further alleges that during the pursuit, the officer kicked the motorbike after the rider continued through the Okponglo traffic light and Tetteh Quarshie Interchange onto the Tema Motorway.
The prosecution says the rider subsequently lost control of the motorbike and crashed into a concrete barrier, while the officer allegedly left the scene without stopping or arranging immediate medical assistance.
Good Samaritans later transported Ivan and the rider to the Tema General Hospital. Ivan was pronounced dead on arrival, while the rider was treated and discharged.
A postmortem conducted on September 3 attributed Ivan’s death to haemorrhagic shock resulting from bilateral haemothorax and haemoperitoneum caused by blunt trauma to the chest and abdomen.
General Corporal Koranteng, 34, who was stationed at the Traffic Management Enforcement Unit at Police Headquarters in Accra, has since been arraigned before the Adabraka District Court and charged with murder.
The Police initially identified and interdicted the officer following preliminary investigations. The Homicide Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department took over the investigation on September 8, while the Police Professional Standards Bureau was tasked with examining his conduct.
The officer was arrested on September 12 and arraigned on September 15.
