Girl, 3, survives for two days in pit latrine

Apam (C/R), Nov. 24, GNA 96 The police, the authorities of the EKO's Preparatory School at Apam and the parents of a three year old girl are trying to unravel how the girl fell into a 12 foot deep pit-latrine and survived for two days without food or water. The victim, Maame Ama Arthur's interest in schooling made her to always accompany her seven year old brother Edward Arthur to the EKO's Preparatory School at Apam.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Apam on Thursday, Mr E K Okorm, Proprietor of the School said Edward could not trace his little sister after school had closed but found her pair of sandals as the school bus was about to leave for Mumford.

Mr Okorm said the school authorities were informed about the missing girl and efforts were made to trace her but to no avail. He said the case was reported to the police while a search party combed the nooks and corners of the vicinity.

Mr Okorm said at about 17 hours on the following day when all hopes seemed dashed A boy in his household called Mustapha reported to him that he had heard the cry of someone in the pit-latrine.

He said when he and some members of the household flashed torchlight into the pit they saw the little girl with her arms stretched out 'to be rescued'.

A rescue team quickly descended into the pit with the use of a rope to rescue Maame Ama, he said adding that they bathed her thoroughly and fed her before taking her to the Apam Catholic Hospital.

When the GNA visited the little girl at Mumford after her discharge she appeared to be in good health except that her skin was peeling apparently due to the excessive heat in the pit.

Her father, Mr J K Arthur, a member of the local branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) expressed gratitude to God for miraculously saving his daughter.