A 34-year-old police officer has been charged with murder over the death of 20-year-old Central University law student Ivan Apprey Baidoo, following allegations that he kicked the motorbike on which the student was travelling during a police pursuit.
General Corporal Robert Katey Koranteng, who was stationed at the Traffic Management Enforcement Unit at the Police Headquarters in Accra, was arraigned at the Adabraka District Court on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
He is accused of intentionally causing Baidoo’s death by unlawful harm, contrary to Section 46 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The prosecution told the court that the incident occurred on August 27, 2026, when Baidoo boarded a Yango motorbike operated by Samuel Wesley Arthur from Ashongman Estates to the East Legon Astroturf Park to play football.
According to the prosecution, Arthur allegedly jumped a red traffic light at the UPSA intersection, where Corporal Koranteng was on duty.
The officer is said to have pursued the motorbike and signalled the rider to stop, but the rider allegedly failed to comply and continued through the Okponglo traffic light and the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange before entering the Tema Motorway.
The prosecution further alleged that after the Old Tollbooth on the motorway, Koranteng kicked the motorbike with his leg while pursuing it.
The impact allegedly caused Arthur to lose control of the motorcycle, resulting in a crash into a concrete barrier.
The prosecution further accused the officer of failing to stop or arrange immediate medical assistance for the victims before leaving the scene.
Good Samaritans subsequently transported Baidoo and Arthur to the Tema General Hospital.
Baidoo was pronounced dead on arrival, while Arthur received treatment and was later discharged.
A postmortem examination conducted on September 3 by Dr Eric Dumfeh, a pathologist at the Tema General Hospital, attributed Baidoo’s death to haemorrhagic shock resulting from bilateral haemothorax and haemoperitoneum caused by blunt trauma to the chest and abdomen.
The Homicide Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department took over the case on September 8, leading to Koranteng’s arrest on September 12 and his subsequent arraignment.
The Police Service had earlier identified and interdicted the officer following preliminary investigations linking him to the incident.
While the CID’s Homicide Unit investigates the circumstances surrounding Baidoo’s death, the Police Professional Standards Bureau is separately examining the officer’s conduct.
Baidoo’s family had called for a transparent investigation and prosecution if the evidence established the officer’s culpability.
His father, Evans Baidoo, said the family did not believe his son had died in an ordinary accident and had demanded accountability.
Baidoo, a law student at Central University, 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.
