Nkwanta in mourning over accident victims

Nkwanta (V/R), Feb. 2, GNA - The Mercedes Benz bus that was involved in an accident with a tipper truck at Akuse Junction at dawn on Thursday was travelling from Nkwanta in the Volta to Accra.

So far eight of the dead have been identified as coming from Nkwanta and Dambai.

A source at the Nkwanta branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) told the Ghana News Agency on Friday that a delegation from the branch led by Mr John Mensah, an Executive Member of the Local Union, had gone to the accident spot.

The source said the victims, mainly traders, including the wife and an in-law of Mr Mensah, were going to Accra to buy some wares to come and sell.

The tragedy has thrown the entire Nkwanta town into shock and mourning. A Nkwanta Hospital source told the GNA that six relatives of the victims, who collapsed on hearing the story about the accident were treated and discharged.

Relatives of some of the victims have expressed displeasure at the manner in which they were informed about the fate of their relatives. Ms Stella Yentumy, a Secretary who lost a relative, said when she called the mobile phone of one of the victims the Policeman who responded just said:

"The owner of this mobile phone is dead."

Mr Felix Dordoye, a Field Officer, said the blunt presentation of accident news to relatives of victims was not the best and asked the Media to find a refined way of presenting such shocking news.