General News of Monday, 1 October 2018

Source: ghananewsagency.org

6 pupils, 2 teachers who died in gory Tarkwa accident buried

Victims of the accident have been laid to rest Victims of the accident have been laid to rest

The six pupils and two teachers of Learners Bridge Academy at Dompim in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region, who died in a motor accident, were laid to rest over the weekend.

The deceased, who were among 48 pupils and a teacher, were returning from school on September 17, 2018, when the school’s Mercedes Sprinter Benz Bus conveying them collided head on with a haulage truck returning from the mines site in Tarkwa.

The Tarkwa Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Glibert Kennedy Asmah, and Member of Parliament George Mireku Duker, Municipal Education of Director, the clergy, teachers and pupils among others attended the burial service, which was held at the forecourt of the Tarkwa Community Centre.

One of the deceased, Mavis Blankson, 16 years, had already been buried.

The seven who were buried over the weekend were Gideon Boateng,16 years, Philipa Attivor, three years, Precious Bukuro, eight years, Kelvin Agyire, six years, Bright Agyarko, three years, Miss. Eunice Abekah, 21 years, and Master Emmanuel Asiedu, 23 years, after a non-denominational service.

The bereaved families wept uncontrollably when the caskets were taken from the venue to the cemetery.

Those who mastered courage and attempted not to weep eventually broke down in tears, triggering a general atmosphere of wailing at the forecourt.

Reverend Nii Ashong, the President of the Tarkwa Ministers Network, in a sermon, encouraged the bereaved families to depend on God’s word in these painful moments.

He asked the various schools within the Municipality to pray fervently to avert such tragedy.

Mr. Duker, the MP, stated that the Assembly, he and some individuals would pay for the cost of treatment and burial of the accident victims.

He therefore donated GH¢10,000 into the special fund that has been created to support the families of the deceased and those on admission.

Mr. Asmah, the MCE, expressed gratitude to those who contributed towards the burial service.

He said GH¢80,000 had so far been spent on the victims at the various hospitals, while GH¢30,000 had been raised to enable one of the victims undergo surgery.

Mr. Asmah announced that an account has been opened at the Cal Bank branch in Tarkwa to receive donations from individuals and organisations.

He appealed to Ghanaians, both home and abroad, to donate into the fund to help provide proper medical care for those on admission.