Assin Kwafokrom Mourns as Alice Elite Academy Pupils Laid to Rest Following Fatal Bus Crash

The community of Assin Kwafokrom was plunged into deep mourning as hundreds of residents, parents, and classmates gathered for the burial of two young pupils from Alice Elite Academy. The victims, a boy and a girl aged between three and five, lost their lives in a tragic school bus accident that has shaken the Central Region. The funeral ceremony served as a solemn farewell to the children, whose promising lives were cut short when their school transport plunged into the Kotwea River, drawing an outpouring of grief and solidarity from across the district.

The fatal incident occurred when a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter bus, carrying over 40 pupils, lost control and veered off the road into the river. While the two young children perished, several other pupils sustained various degrees of injuries in the crash. According to reports from the scene, all surviving pupils have since been treated and discharged from the hospital, but the psychological impact on the survivors and the broader school community remains profound as they grapple with the loss of their peers.

In the wake of the tragedy, legal actions have been initiated against those held responsible for the safety of the children. The bus driver, identified as Charles Aidoo, has been remanded in custody and faces charges of careless and inconsiderate driving. Simultaneously, the proprietor of Alice Elite Academy, Madam Alice, is facing charges of negligence. Although she is also under police investigation, she was granted bail primarily due to her health condition. These developments have intensified the local conversation surrounding the accountability of private school operators in ensuring the safety of their students during transit.

The tragedy has sparked urgent calls from community leaders and grieving parents for the stricter enforcement of road safety regulations, particularly concerning school transport services. Mourners at the burial expressed their heartbreak and frustration, urging the National Road Safety Authority and the Ghana Police Service to conduct more rigorous inspections of vehicles used to ferry children. As the Assin Kwafokrom community begins the long process of healing, the loss of these two young lives stands as a stark reminder of the critical need for improved safety standards and mechanical vigilance on Ghana's roads.