School authorities cannot be held responsible – GES on death of Gwiraman SHS student
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has defended the authorities of Gwiraman Senior High School over the death of a 21-year-old student.
The final year student, Nathanial Yankey, according to reports died on Wednesday morning at the Essikado Government Hospital after he complained of a headache.
The mother of the deceased student blamed the school’s authorities for being negligent.
“I told him I was coming for him, but he said the hospital was taking GH¢150, so I sent it to him.
“On Sunday when I called that I was coming for him, he said he was going for classes and that the roads in the area were terrible especially as it was raining so I shouldn’t worry myself”.
“It was on Tuesday that when I spoke to him, I realized he sounded weak so I insisted I was going to school. But he told me he was en route back home as he was not feeling too well. I asked him whether he had informed the school authorities to which he replied that he had not done so because he would have been asked to go and continue with the paracetamol medication”
“When he got here, I sent him to the hospital and they immediately put him on oxygen and other machines. He passed away on the dawn of Wednesday” she told 3news.
But GES has refuted the accusations.
In a press statement, the service said Gwiraman SHS was an E-Block Community Day School, therefore, did not have a boarding facility.
It said the private hostel, which Yankey stayed was not run by the school authorities.
They also refuted allegations that the boy died as a result of improper handling of the situation on campus.
“Management of GES wishes to state that Gwiraman SHS is an E-Block Community Day School. However, some parents, including the parents of the deceased, have hired their own private hostel for their wards where they reside and commute to and from school on a daily basis.
“Such hostels are run by private individuals and not by the school authorities” a statement signed by Head of Public Relations at GES, Cassandra Twum Ampofo said.
A final year student of the KNUST SHS, Leonard Sam, has also died.