By Caroline Boateng, ACCRAResidentsnof McCarthy Hill were struck with horror when a 47-year-old accountant set himself ablaze at Hillview Down in Accra in the early hours of yesterday.
James Odametey was the accountant and manager of a printing and publishing company in Accra.
His charred body and his KIA Sportage vehicle, which burnt beyond recognition, were found in the middle of an untarred road at Hillview Down at McCarthy Hill.
According to an eyewitness who happened to be jogging in the area in the morning, he heard Odametey speaking on phone to someone that he wanted to take his life.
He said he could not help because the accountant had rolled up the windows of his vehicle.
The witness said he, therefore, went to draw the attention of some of the residents of the area to the development but when he returned at 6.30 a.m., Odametey had moved his vehicle to a different location and set himself ablaze.
According to him, personnel of the Weija Fire Station responded to a distress call and arrived at the scene to put out the fire.
His body has since been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue for autopsy.
Police convey the body
Briefing the Daily Graphic after conveying the body from the scene, the Odorkor Divisional Crime Officer, Chief Inspector George Mensah
Dzameshie, said the police received information around 7:30 a.m. yesterday that a man had been found burnt in his car at McCarthy Hill.
He said arrangements were quickly made to dispatch some policemen, including rescuers, to the scene.
He said even though the actual cause of death was yet to be ascertained, “the wife said Odametey had been complaining that he did not like the place he was working”.
“But she had been advising him (Odametey) to leave the place and find another job, only to be told early this morning that he was dead,” he added.
Chief Inspector Dzameshie indicated that before his death, Odametey had called his wife on phone that he wanted to take his life but he refused to listen to her pleas and advice.
“Odametey is said to have told his wife that it was too late, since he was prepared to die,” he said.
Also at the scene was the Odorkor Divisional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police
Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mr Abdulai Mumuni, who promised that the police would do everything possible to ascertain the actual cause of death.
He, however, ruled out the possibility of foul play.
When the Daily Graphic visited Odametey’s workplace, it was observed that the workers had no knowledge whatsoever of the incident.
A worker who pleaded anonymity expressed shock and worry over the incident, saying, “I was waiting for him (Odametey) to arrive and clear some cheques that have been brought in by some clients, only to be told about the unfortunate incident.”
He said many attempts had been made to reach him ( Odametey) on his mobile phone but all to no avail.
When asked if his former manager had any problem with his employers, he answered, “As far as I’m concerned, there was no issue.
“He even bid me farewell and wished me a nice weekend last Friday after promising to be here today.”
