Tragedy Hits Aburi Girls

. Driver, student die in accident many others sustain injuries

By Michael Donkor

PANIC-STRIKEN parents, guardians and friends of students of Aburi Girls Secondary School on Saturday besieged the 37 Military Hospital in Accra following reports that some of the students on a trip to Mfantsipim School at Cape Coast were involved in a fatal accident at Okyereko on the main Accra-Cape Coast Road.

The driver, Kwesi Koranteng, and a student died on the spot whilst about 80 other students sustained various degrees of injury.

The name of the dead student is, however, being withheld by hospital authorities for ethical reasons. Brigadier Dan K. Twum, Commanding Officer of the 37 Military Hospital, told the Graphic that “it is unethical to give out the name when the family of the dead has not been officially informed”.

The two bodies have, however, been deposited at the 37 Military Hospital morgue for autopsy.

According to reports, the students were on their way to Cape Coast for a drama exchange programme with the Mfantsipim School when the accident occurred.

The parents besieged the hospital following media reports that because the Winneba Government Hospital was not in a position to handle the situation the authorities have despatched a number of ambulances and two helicopters from Accra to convey the seriously injured to the military hospital.

Reports also said a team of doctors from the 37 Military Hospital were rushed to Winneba to join their colleagues to offer first aid to the victims.

Brigadier Twum said in an interview that 30 students were treated and discharged on Saturday at the 37 Military Hospital while the rest, who sustained serious injuries, are still on admission.

He gave the assurance that the hospital has the capacity to deal with the casualty situation.

“What the hospital appears to be incapable of handling now is the attitude of the parents who have besieged the hospital making it difficult for the doctors to do their work effectively” he said.

Brigadier Twum said when the victims were brought, there was no space in the wards compelling the authorities to send them to the intensive care unit and added that when space was found later some of them were transferred to the wards.

According to him, they were not sent to the intensive care unit because of their critical conditions adding that some of them who were sent there have even been discharged.

Brigadier Twum said the hospital provided a bus to convey those who were discharged back to the school.

He said this was done to avoid any rift between the parents and the school authorities and indicated that the hospital will continue to handle the situation this way to forestall any rift between parents and the school authorities.

Brigadier Twum said the doctors are constantly reviewing the conditions of the victims to ensure their speedy recovery.

He called on the parents to exercise restraint and co-operate with the hospital authorities to handle the situation.

A hospital source said however that two of the victims are in very critical condition and are on admission in the intensive care unit of the hospital.

It said 20 other students, whose condition are yet to be stable, are being offered special attention at the accident unit of the hospital while the rest of the victims, have been admitted to the various wards of the hospital including the children’s ward.

By noon yesterday, more parents besieged the hospital to find out about the fate of their wards.

Some parents also besieged the school premises to find out about the fate of their wards resulting in a traffic jam on the Accra-Aburi road.

The source said some parents living abroad have called the hospital to find out about the conditions of the accident victims and their names. According to the parents, they had information about the accident on the Internet.

The headmistress, Mrs. Ansah Otu, when contacted for details about the accident retorted “I am tired of the press” and asked the media personnel to go and write whatever they please.

The School Chaplain, Rev. Moses O. Biney, who volunteered some information, said four teachers, who were also on the bus, sustained serious injuries and are on admission at the 37 Military Hospital.

He said the school’s telephone lines have been inundated with calls from parents who wanted to know the names of the casualties involved in the accident.

Rev. Biney refuted reports that the school authorities have prevented parents from gaining access to their wards.

He explained that when the accident happened, some parents who rushed to the scene picked their wards home and later sent them to hospital.

Meanwhile, the 37 Military Hospital authorities have beefed up security at the hospital to prevent parents from interfering with medical operations at the accident centre.

Some of the parents talked to looked dejected and expressed concern about the refusal of the hospital authorities to allow them to allow them access to their wards to find out about their state of health.

Some of the victims are in bandage, with plaster around their faces while the others are receiving intravenous infusions. Some also have developed swollen faces and jaws.

A Ghana News Agency report also said a number of personalities also rushed to the accident scene to help in rescue operations.

They include the Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Patience Adow; the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi.

Others are: Professor J. Anamuah-Mensah, Principal of the University College of Education, Winneba; and Mr. Frank Swanz Essien, District Director of Education for Awutu -Effutu-Senya.

Speaking to newsmen at Winneba, Prof. Ameyaw Akumfi commended the team of doctors from Accra and Winneba, as well as nurses and volunteers, who rushed to the hospital to help the victims, for their high sense of duty and fellow-feeling.

He described the accident as unfortunate and appealed to parents and guardians, whose children and wards were involved, to exercise great restraint while the whole nation joins them to mourn for the departed victims as well as for the speedy recovery for the injured.

Prof. Ameyaw Akumfi used the occasion to caution drivers of the GES to always exercise great care to avoid the recurrence of such misfortune.