/ 30 October 2000

GHANA’S RAWLINGS ESCAPES CONVOY CRASH

GHANAIAN President Jerry Rawlings escaped with bruises after an accident in which four bodyguards travelling in his convoy were killed, officials said. The accident happened near the capital Accra when a car drove onto a motorway, causing some cars in the presidential convoy to crash. Rawlings and his wife Nana Konadu suffered light bruises and were treated at a military hospital before being discharged. Three more bodyguards were injured. Rawlings, who has ruled the West African country for nearly 19 years, is due to step down after a presidential election scheduled for December 7. – Reuters