IGP apologises to family of 24-year-old woman found dead at Takoradi hotel

The Inspector-General of Police, Dr Akuffo Dampare, has apologised to the family of Lois Abena Koranteng, a 24-year-old woman who was found lifeless in a swimming pool at a hotel in Takoradi in the Western region. The IGP’s apology follows complaints from the family that the law enforcement agency had not sufficiently engaged with them following the mysterious demise of their loved one.

In a statement on Thursday, July 11, the Police said: “Following the dissatisfaction expressed by the deceased family in sections of the media regarding the extent of Police engagement with them on the matter, the Inspector-General of Police yesterday, 10th July 2024, reached out to the family via a telephone call, and rendered an unqualified apology to them for the lack of sufficient Police engagement. He assured them that investigation into the incident is still ongoing and also informed them of the readiness of the Police to visit them at their convenience and update them on the investigation done so far.”

The statement further assured: “Police will continue to work closely with the family as investigation into the incident continues.”

Recounting steps taken so far following a complaint about the discovery of the now-deceased’s body, the statement said: “On 8th June 2024, the Ghana Police Service received a complaint to the effect that Lois Abena Koranteng, a 24-year-old woman had been found unconscious in a swimming pool at a hotel in Takoradi in the Western region and was taken to the hospital for medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival.”

The statement added that Police commenced investigation into the incident on the same day, with a police team visiting the scene and the hospital where the body of the deceased was examined. No marks of assault were found on her. The body was later deposited at the morgue, where an “autopsy was conducted on 8th June 2024 in the presence of the deceased's family by a Pathologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. The verbal cause of death was given as (i) ASPHYXIA, (ii) SEVERE PULMONARY EDEMA, and (iii) DROWNING IN A POOL.”

Lois Abena Koranteng, a recent KNUST Petroleum Engineering graduate, was found dead under suspicious circumstances, allegedly during a business trip with her boss. On Friday, 7 June 2024, Lois reportedly checked into a hotel in Takoradi with her boss and their driver, each occupying separate rooms. Tragically, at dawn on 8 June 2024, a hotel worker discovered Lois's body, clad only in a bra and knickers, in the hotel swimming pool. Despite efforts to rush her to the hospital, she was pronounced dead upon arrival. It is reported that the hotel claimed its CCTV cameras were not operational at the time of the incident, leaving no footage of the incident.

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