The Director-General of Ghana Education Service, Dr Eric Nkansah, has donated one hundred (100) life jackets 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 over the weekend when he led a government delegation to the community after eight schoolchildren got drawn whiles going to school a couple of days ago.
His visit to the community was aimed at sympathising with the bereaved family 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 life jackets 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 life jackets 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 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 GES to ensure they are safe and secure.

To address the challenge of inadequate teachers in the island community, the Director-General disclosed that he was in talks with the 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 GES to ensure they are safe and secure.

On behalf of the chiefs and people of Nkomi Traditional area, Okyeame of Nkomi Traditional Area, Okyeame Kofi Amponi, eulogised the Director-General of GES for his pragmatic leadership which will go a long way to enhance the development of education in the country.

He also lauded the Director General for the jackets donated which would go a long way to protect the children whiles waiting for the construction of the school building in the community.

He pledged the support of the people towards the development of education in the area.

The DCE for Sene East, Hon. Kofi Gyimah applauded the Director-General for being a man of his word and donating the life jackets to curb drowning in the island community.

The Director-General was accompanied by the Financial Controller of 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 from GES.

Dr Nkansah and the delegation visited the bereaved families of the eight (8) pupils who met their untimely death 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 (8) school children who were among twenty (20) school children travelling to school from Atigagorme to Wayokope drowned when the boat capsized.

The Government, therefore, sent the GES Director General and other dignitaries to commiserate with the bereaved family, donate life jackets and also announced plans for the government to construct a new school for them so they would not travel across the lake again.