The Day the Music Stopped – May Their Souls Rest in Peace

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• Kofi Sefa 12 years ago

  Its sad that the driver of the car did that! Not only did he or she end young people's lives, should also have at least stopped to help them and explain the reason for the sudden accleration; to ascertain whether it was inte ...
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  Its sad that the driver of the car did that! Not only did he or she end young people's lives, should also have at least stopped to help them and explain the reason for the sudden accleration; to ascertain whether it was intentional or accidental. May their souls continue to rest.

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• Marquis 12 years ago

  We all cried and couldnt believe that it happened. I remember as I was at Kwabotwe and Cape Coast resident. If I am not mistaken the said driver Merful was picked up by Police.

  We all cried and couldnt believe that it happened. I remember as I was at Kwabotwe and Cape Coast resident. If I am not mistaken the said driver Merful was picked up by Police.

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• KK 12 years ago

  This is very well written, sad and you want to know more. That keeps you thinking.
  
  The writer, in an attempt to sound literary, left a few things out that made the story even more interesting. You want to know what year i ...
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  This is very well written, sad and you want to know more. That keeps you thinking.
  
  The writer, in an attempt to sound literary, left a few things out that made the story even more interesting. You want to know what year is being talked about (you can find out yourself by a little research), how many students actually died, why the driver did what he did and what happened to him, and how the rest of the celebrations were carried out after the sorrowful deaths. But the writer specifically left out all these to draw attention to the tragedy and its rememberance today. Why today?
  
  Other worthy points to note: the writer talked quite at length about the drivers who joined merrily in the march past only for the reader to find out that it was one of them (a driver) that turned the joyful into a sorrowful day. Note also how the music stopped when the disaster took place. And when the marchers now walked slowly back to school, the bonfire, which had burnt vigorously, was now shedding its last embers...
  
  "And that song, it came to me again, in my sleep and everywhere else..."
  
  Beautiful, Papa Appiah. You really went to a good school.
  
  I have been reading your articles on the Black Stars and see you are a football fan too. Hope we get a good piece from you after today's Black Stars match in Cairo. There are some of us who are nervous despite our good home win. And may Burkina Faso also get a draw away...

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• Papa Appiah 12 years ago

  Thanks for your comments. Much appreciated. it was 1980. 2 boys died. Five guys recovered from serious injuries and lenghty stay in hospital.
  Why today? Just remembered for a reason

  Thanks for your comments. Much appreciated. it was 1980. 2 boys died. Five guys recovered from serious injuries and lenghty stay in hospital.
  Why today? Just remembered for a reason

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• Kwesi 12 years ago

  Whaaaaat! I, a Santaclausian (Adisco), am reluctantly inclined to admit that this your piece is one of the best articles I have read on this platform. For the first time in my life, I am moved to recognize that Augusco must a ...
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  Whaaaaat! I, a Santaclausian (Adisco), am reluctantly inclined to admit that this your piece is one of the best articles I have read on this platform. For the first time in my life, I am moved to recognize that Augusco must after all be a good school.
  
  However your attempt to steal credits where credit is not due, by erroneously or perhaps, mischievously claiming that "At the time, we were about the only school in Ghana with a full orchestra." must be immediately corrected.
  
  Adisadel College (Vel Primis, Vel cum primus = Either the Best or with the Best), had a school orchestra, two Jazz bands and several pop groups before or at the time I gained admission to the school in the early sixties. We dont brag we only say the truth and unfortunately our humble truth makes others feel second-in-line and small.
  
  Anyway, thanks for making my day with your excellent article. Perhaps we can have more ....??

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• Kwesi 12 years ago

  Correction of school motto. Vel Primus, Vel cum Primis

  Correction of school motto. Vel Primus, Vel cum Primis

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• Nokorfou 12 years ago

  Please the writer is talking about the eighties and you are referencing the sixties. In the eighties Augusco was the only school in Ghana with a full classical orchestra. I was at Aggrey Memorial and I wanted to take music ...
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  Please the writer is talking about the eighties and you are referencing the sixties. In the eighties Augusco was the only school in Ghana with a full classical orchestra. I was at Aggrey Memorial and I wanted to take music at the O’level – Augusco had the only full orchestra in Ghana at the secondary school level (Mr. C. B Wilson was in charge). Please you are rather bragging based on past glory!!
  
  I am sure there is no school in Ghana now that has full orchestra (including Augusco) -- very sad!!!

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• Komla 12 years ago

  For your information Adisco is not the only good school in Ghana.I will take Augusco over Adisco any day! This is one of the things I like about my generation, the pride we feel for the schools we attended and the healthy com ...
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  For your information Adisco is not the only good school in Ghana.I will take Augusco over Adisco any day! This is one of the things I like about my generation, the pride we feel for the schools we attended and the healthy competion over which school is the best!

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• Narkie 12 years ago

  Sad. May they continue to dance im the LORD

  Sad. May they continue to dance im the LORD

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• Hetty 12 years ago

  This is a really good piece, albeit sad.
  Papa, your article has moved me to write my first comment here. It has also assured me we still have people like you, who can write GOOD English.
  All's not lost, after all.
  Thanks, ...
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  This is a really good piece, albeit sad.
  Papa, your article has moved me to write my first comment here. It has also assured me we still have people like you, who can write GOOD English.
  All's not lost, after all.
  Thanks, Papa Appiah.

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• Dr Yaw Ohemeng 12 years ago

  I remember this incident like yesterday. I was in Upper Six then.
  
  I remember the next day we heard that this driver had been detained by the Bakano Police. I remember an address by Headmaster Gyasi-Appiah, which was meant ...
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  I remember this incident like yesterday. I was in Upper Six then.
  
  I remember the next day we heard that this driver had been detained by the Bakano Police. I remember an address by Headmaster Gyasi-Appiah, which was meant to calm us down. Rather, it did inflame our anger as we all charged towards Bakano Police Station with the aim of lynching this driver. However, we were stopped even before we got past the Hospital. There was sadness mixed with anger.
  
  The driver was tried in an Accra Court. Glover (Dr Glover formerly of UDS) and others appeared as witnesses. He was found guilty and sentenced to something like 3 years imprisonment.
  
  Well done for writing about this horror. Really feeling it again now.
  
  The year was 1980.

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• Komla 12 years ago

  Thank you for sharing the story. What a tragedy it was? How very sad that two young lives were lost on an occasion meant to be a joyous one. I wonder what would have become of Ankamah and Awichway had they lived.

  Thank you for sharing the story. What a tragedy it was? How very sad that two young lives were lost on an occasion meant to be a joyous one. I wonder what would have become of Ankamah and Awichway had they lived.

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• Tekonline.org 12 years ago

  Omnia Vincit Labor.

  Omnia Vincit Labor.

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