Canadian federal employee dies in Ghana after found unconscious in hotel

The Canadian Press / Times Colonist
February 12, 2013

OTTAWA - A Canadian man has died in Ghana after being found unconscious at his hotel.

Darrell Prokopetz, 54, died after being rushed to hospital after he failed to show up for a meeting with two work colleagues, said a family member who asked not to be identified.

Prokopetz was a project director with the Canada School of Public Service. He was in Ghana working as part of a Canadian government program that helps other nations with civil service reforms.

When he didn't arrive for the Jan. 30 meeting with his co-workers, they called hotel security, who entered his room and found him, said the family member.

"We think it's a heart attack," he said.

"It was said to be failure of the left ventricle," he added, noting that an official autopsy report hadn't yet been made available.

Prokopetz had travelled extensively as part of his job, having been to 40 different countries before going to Ghana.

Canada's International Trade Minister Ed Fast was in the West African country at the time on a trade mission, but both his the department and family say Prokopetz was not involved with that.

Consular officials in Accra, Ghana, were providing assistance to get more information about the death and to help repatriate Prokopetz's remains.

Prokopetz leaves behind his wife, Monique Eady, who could not be reached for comment.