The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Dr. Eric Nkansah, has donated 100 lifejackets and learning materials to the Atigagorme community at Wayokope in the Sene East District of the Bono East Region.
The Director General made the donation last weekend when he led a government delegation to the community after eight schoolchildren got drawn whiles going to school.
His visit to the community was to sympathise with the bereaved families, as well as assuring them of the government’s preparedness to support them to prevent such future incidents.
The Director General used the occasion to inspect a piece of land donated by the community for the construction of a new school.
Dr. Nkansah said the government would start the construction of a school in the island community within the shortest possible time, explaining that the donation of the lifejackets was an interim safety and security measure for the school children.
“We are deeply saddened by the occurrence and, as leaders it is our duty to ensure that such bad news never befalls our children again. To address the challenge, the government is constructing a school here in Atigagorme within the shortest possible time. As we wait for the completion of the school, I plead with all parents and teachers to ensure that our children wear the lifejackets we have donated today.”
The Director General said that to help address the challenges of inadequate teachers in the island community, he was in talks with the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area to recruit and post some teachers to the community.
Dr. Nkansah consoled the surviving children who were on the boat when the incident occurred, and assured them of the continuous support of the GES to ensure they were safe and secure.
On behalf of the Chiefs and people of the Nkomi Traditional Area, Okyeame of the Nkomi Traditional Area, Okyeame Kofi Amponi, eulogised the Director-General for his pragmatic leadership, which would go a long way to enhance the development of education in the country, and also for the jackets to protect the children while waiting for the construction of the school building in the community.
He further pledged the support of the people towards the development of education in the area.
The DCE for Sene East, Kofi Gyimah, applauded the Director-General for being a man of his word and donating the lifejackets to curb drownings in the island community.
The Director-General was accompanied by the Financial Controller of the GES, Dr. Chris Koramoah; the Regional Director of Bono East, Madam Effua Amual, the DCE of Sene East, Mr. Kofi Gyimah, the Sene East District Director of Education, Mr, Nassir Ibrahim, and other staff of the Education Service.
Dr. Nkansah and the delegation also visited the bereaved families of the eight pupils who met their untimely deaths while crossing from Atigagorme to attend school at Wayokope in the Sene East District in the Bono East Region.
Background
On Tuesday 24th January, eight school children, who were among twenty others travelling to school from Atigagorme to Wayokope, drowned when the boat they were in capsized.
The government, therefore, sent the GES Director General and other dignitaries to commiserate with the bereaved family, donate lifejackets and also announced plans to construct a new school for them so their children would not have to travel across the lake again.
