A tragic accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in the Central Region of Ghana, claiming the lives of two final year pupils of the Ekumfi Obidan Potwabin Basic School. The students were returning home from school after attending voluntary lessons organised by the school authorities to help them prepare for their final examinations.
The additional classes were arranged to prevent the pupils from falling behind in their studies due to the ongoing nationwide strike by pre-tertiary teachers. The lessons aimed to give the pupils extra preparation ahead of their final examinations. However, tragedy struck as the students were making their way home, highlighting concerns about road safety in the area.
The tipper truck, reportedly travelling at high speed, crashed into the pupils and ran over them. One student died at the scene due to the severity of the impact, while another succumbed to injuries after being rushed to the Roman Catholic Hospital at Mankessim. A third pupil suffered serious injuries and was receiving emergency treatment.
Deputy Chairman of the School Management Board, Emmanuel Ekow Arthur, confirmed the incident and expressed shock and mourning on behalf of the school and the wider community. He explained that the voluntary lessons were introduced to ensure that final year pupils did not lose valuable instructional time due to the nationwide industrial action by teachers.
The incident has generated grief and anger among parents, teachers, and residents, with calls growing for stronger measures to control the movement and speed of heavy-duty vehicles through the community. Residents say tipper trucks and other large commercial vehicles frequently travel at excessive speeds through the area, posing a significant danger to schoolchildren, pedestrians, and other road users.
The community is appealing to the Ekumfi District Assembly, the Ghana Police Service, and the National Road Safety Authority to introduce urgent safety measures, including speed ramps, road signs, and stronger enforcement of traffic regulations, particularly around schools and during periods when children are moving to and from classes.
The bodies of the two deceased pupils have been deposited at the morgue while police investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision. Academic activities at the Ekumfi Obidan Potwabin Basic School have been temporarily affected as pupils and teachers struggle to cope with the sudden loss of their colleagues.
Key points
- The accident occurred while the pupils were returning home from voluntary lessons organised by the school.
- The community is demanding urgent safety measures, including speed ramps and stronger enforcement of traffic regulations.
- The incident has plunged the school and the wider community into shock and mourning.
