Eight people die in accident

Agona (Ash), Aug 3, GNA - Six people died on the spot and two others later at the Asante-Mampong Government Hospital when an eight-seater mini bus on which they were travelling from Mampong to Kumasi collided head on with a cargo vehicle from the opposite direction at Agona on Saturday. However, a 10-year-old boy of a couple, who died in the accident, survived with minor injuries and is on admission at the Mampong hospital, where he is responding to treatment.

The two, who died at the hospital included Mr Fela Osei Bonsu, a science master at the Saint Monica's Secondary School and a middle aged man who had not been identified yet.

Four of the passengers, who died on the spot had been identified as Fanti, driver of the mini bus, a Mr Owusu and Mr and Mrs Atakora, the couple, all from Mampong.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency on the accident, Chief Superintendent Kwaku Ayesu Opare-Addo, Mampong Divisional Police Commander, said Kumah Frafra, the driver of the cargo truck, who survived the accident with minor bruises, was heading from Kumasi to Mampong.

He said the driver attempted to save a calf, which had ran to his side of the lane at Agona and so he veered into the lane of the on-coming mini bus.

Chief Superintendent Opare-Addo said the deceased driver, who saw the cargo truck veered into his lane, branched to the left lane to avoid a collision but unfortunately, the cargo truck veered back to its original lane, resulting in a head-on collision.

The accident sent the township of Mampong into a state of mourning as almost all the dead are believed to come from the town.

Mr Thomas Edward Atakorah, the Sekyere West District Chief Executive, was among the large number of people who thronged the hospital to identify their dead and to express his deep condolence to the bereaved families.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the dead had been deposited at the Mampong hospital for autopsy.