Sege (G/R) Aug. 20, GNA - Victims who died in last Monday's road accident involving the Metro Mass Transit bus at Koni-Kablu in the Volta Region would be given a mass burial on September 4.

Twenty people who were returning from the annual Afenorto Festival lost their lives in that accident.

Available records have it that eighteen of the dead hail from the Mepe Traditional Area.

This was made known by the Chiefs and Queen mothers of the Mepe Traditional Area when the Minister of Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, paid a visit to the Mepe community to express his condolences.

Mr Amidu also visited the accident victims on admission at the Battor Catholic hospital.

Mr Julius Adjaklo, spokesman for the chiefs and people of Mepe Traditional Area, said a nine-member committee had been set up to coordinate the funeral activities.

On behalf of the community, Mr Adjaklo commended the government for the provision of the Metro Mass Transit service which, he said, had helped to alleviate the difficulties experienced previously by the people when the need arose for them to travel to Accra.

The Interior Minister expressed expressed condolences to the people of Mepe, especially the bereaved families, and encouraged them to remain strong "in this difficult moment."

He said, 93What we should do is gather courage to stand and live."

The minister donated GH¢5,000.00 in addition to 100 pieces of mats, 50 mattresses, 50 blankets, 60 plastics bowls and buckets and 5 cartons of soap for the upkeep of the victims and directed those in charge of the distribution to ensure that the effected people received what was due them.

Mr Amidu further directed NADMO to release some relief items to help cushion the victims and the bereaved families.

The administrator of the Battor Hospital, Tonatus Adalitey, told the Minister and his entourage that some of the accident victims had been treated and discharged, while five had been referred to the Korle-Bu hospital in Accra.

He appealed to government for an ambulance for the hospital and expressed appreciation for the concern demonstrated by the Interior Minister.