The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has instructed the Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to convene an urgent meeting with the Upper West Regional Director of Education, the Lawra District Director of Education, and the Headmaster of the Lawra School. This meeting is to address the tragic drowning of seven students from the school and to provide a report back to him.
In an unexpected and heartbreaking turn of events, ten students from the school’s cadet corps attempted to cross the Black Volta River near Dikpe into Burkina Faso during a routine morning jogging exercise. Unfortunately, the canoe they boarded capsized midway through the journey.
“We have received confirmation from the Upper West Regional Minister and the Member of Parliament for Lawra that three of the ten students were rescued while seven unfortunately drowned,” stated a message issued by Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Clement Apaak. The statement noted that the bodies of the seven students who lost their lives, comprising five girls and two boys, have been recovered by teams from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, and the Ghana Education Service.
“On behalf of the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu and the government, I convey our deep shock and sadness to the families of the seven students. “We share in the grief of the affected families and the entire school community. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this extremely difficult time,” it said. The statement said as the Ministry awaited a full report from the Ghana Police Service, “we wish to assure Ghanaians that we will continue to do our best to ensure the safety and security of our students.”
Source: Graphic.com.gh
