Cop charged with murder, remanded over death of law student

The Adabraka District Court in Accra has remanded a police officer, General Corporal Robert Katey Koranteng, over the alleged murder of a 20-year-old law student , Ivan Apprey Baidoo, on the Tema Motorway.

General Corporal Koranteng, 34, who was stationed at the Traffic Management Enforcement Unit at the Police Headquarters in Accra, was arraigned on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, and charged with murder. The court did not take his plea and remanded him to reappear on September 29, 2026.

The prosecution alleges that Koranteng caused the death of Ivan Apprey Baidoo, a Level 200 Law student of Central University, during a police pursuit on August 27, 2026.

According to the prosecution’s case, Baidoo had ordered a Yango motorbike ride from Ashongman Estates to the East Legon Astroturf Park, where he was going to play football. The rider, Samuel Wesley Arthur, was said to have gone through a red traffic light at the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) traffic intersection, where Koranteng was on duty.

The court was told that Koranteng pursued the motorbike and signalled the rider to stop, but Arthur continued towards Okponglo, the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange and onto the Tema Motorway.

The prosecution alleges that after the former tollbooth on the motorway, Koranteng kicked the motorbike with his leg, causing the rider to lose control and crash into a concrete barrier.

Koranteng allegedly sped away without stopping to assist the victims or arrange immediate medical attention.

Members of the public later conveyed Baidoo and Arthur to the Tema General Hospital, where Baidoo was pronounced dead on arrival. Arthur was treated and discharged.

The Airport Divisional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) was informed about the accident at about 4:30 p.m. the same day and took over investigations.

On September 3, Dr Eric Dumfeh, a pathologist at the Tema General Hospital, conducted a post-mortem examination and gave the cause of death as haemorrhagic shock, bilateral haemothorax and haemoperitoneum, resulting from blunt trauma to the chest and abdomen.

The Homicide Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department took over the investigation on September 8, and Koranteng was arrested on September 12.

The Police Service had earlier identified and interdicted Koranteng after preliminary investigations linked him to the incident. The Homicide Unit was investigating the circumstances surrounding Baidoo’s death, while the Police Professional Standards Bureau was examining the officer’s conduct.

Baidoo’s family had demanded a transparent investigation and prosecution if the investigations established the officer’s culpability. His father, Evans Baidoo, said the family did not believe his son had died in an ordinary accident.

Baidoo is scheduled to be buried on Saturday, September 19, 2026. A pre-burial service is scheduled for 6 a.m., followed by the main burial service at 7 a.m. at CEM Rehoboth Temple near Wisconsin University.

Investigations are continuing.