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Court Orders Police to Pay GH₵2 Million Compensation to Family of Taxi Driver Who Died in Custody
The Sekondi High Court has ordered the Ghana Police Service to pay GH₵2 million in compensation to the family of Joseph Entsie, a 53-year-old Fijai-based taxi driver who died while in police custody.
The late Entsie, who operated from the Fijai taxi rank in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, was arrested on December 25, 2021, for alleged drunk driving and for hitting a police officer at the Effia-Nkwanta Nurses Quarters checkpoint.
He was detained at the Sekondi Police Station and later pronounced dead.
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At the time, police officials informed the family that Entsie had committed suicide in the cell.
However, in November 2022, the Commercial Division of the Sekondi High Court, presided over by Justice Sedina Agbemava, ruled that Entsie was killed by police officers, contradicting the initial police report of suicide.
Following this ruling, the family filed a fresh case against the Ghana Police Service and the Attorney General, seeking compensation of GH₵5 million.
In its final judgement on Thursday, February 5th, 2026, the court ordered the Ghana Police Service to pay GH₵2 million as general compensation to the family.
The court also held the police liable for Entsie’s mortuary bills from the date of his death to the date of burial and instructed that his body be released immediately to the family for interment.
The court rejected the family’s claim for GH₵80,000 as anticipatory funeral expenses.
It further awarded GH₵210,000 in special damages, daily compensation of GH₵70 for the ten days Entsie was in police custody, and the return of personal items, including a Techno phone, GH₵236.20, a T-shirt, and jeans belonging to the deceased.
Speaking to Connect FM, the lawyer for the family, Ebo Donkor, told Nhyiraba Paa Kwesi Simpson, the host of Connect FM’s Omanbapa Morning Show, that the family is satisfied with the ruling.
“The court in its final judgement indicated that the defendant is fully liable for the mortuary bills from the date of death of the deceased to the date of burial. The defendant is also to release the body forthwith to the family for burial. The court also said the funeral claim of GHC 80,000 the family demanded is anticipatory and so was refused.
The Defendant is therefore to pay 2 million Ghana cedis as compensation to Plaintiffs, GHC 210,000 in special damages, the full cost of the mortuary bill, and GHC 70 each day for the 10 days the taxi of the late driver was in the custody of the police. The defendant is also to provide a Tecno phone (GHc 236.20p), a t-shirt, and jeans belonging to the late taxi driver to be given to the plaintiff. The family is so far satisfied, and there is no intent to file for an appeal.” He indicated.
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