Four students of KUMACA die within two weeks

The spate of death at Kumasi death of Kumasi Academy students is assuming more worrying levels following reports of a fourth passing on Friday.

Authorities say parents of the latest casualty called at the school on Monday to break the news of their ward’s demise.

The deceased, yet to be identified, is a Form One student who reportedly sneaked out of school, apparently, to seek medical attention for what has become a strange condition but died at home.

It comes after three other students had died in similar circumstances within short intervals late last month within ten days interval.

The now deceased had been granted permission out of school to seek attention at home for an unknown condition.

Public Relations Officer at the Ashanti Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service, Cassandra Twum-Ampofo has dismissed claims students might have died of food poisoning.

But she says authorities are waiting for a postmortem report on the four students.

“What we have gathered shows that there wasn’t any food poisoning because you know when there is food poisoning, you have huge number of people eating on a particular day.  They all eat the same food. According to the nurses and professionals, the signs they presented has nothing to do with food poisoning,” she explained

Students of Kumasi Academy went on a rampage Friday night to demand answers from authorities over the series of death.

Authorities have allayed fears of suspected food poisoning though they disclose the students had complained of headache and severe pain.

Nhyira News sources suggest all deceased, three of whom were in the 2^nd year and other in 1^st year, had been close associates on campus.

She however indicates authorities are awaiting autopsy reports on them by Friday to be able to establish the real cause of death.

Mrs. Twum-Ampofo says most of the students who were allowed to go home following Friday’s incident have returned as normal academic work resumes.

The rest are expected to join their colleagues tomorrow while counselors are on hand to address the emotional and psychological concerns of students.

“When it comes to religious aspect, we have SU[Scripture Union] people;  the chaplaincy board . They have all come on board to talk to the students to relieve them of the fear; to encourage  them and so at now, KUMACA is  okay, stabilized , everything is normal.”

 

Source: Ghana I Nhyira FM I Naa Amerley & Ohemeng Tawiah