Committee to investigate Adisadel death

Cape Coast, March. 26, GNA- A five-member committee of enquiry was on Wednesday inaugurated by the Board of Governors of the Adisadel College, to investigate the circumstances leading to the death of a final year student of the school. Master Abdul Gafaru Rahman, the deceased, jumped to his death from

the fourth floor of the school's new classroom block on Sunday March 16, 2008.

The committee, which was sworn into office by Mr Solomon Abam Quartey, Chairman of the Board, has Reverend Canon John M. Adu-Acheampong, Manager of Anglican Education Unit as it chairman. It would also enquire into the school's regulation regarding the movements of students and whether they were any breaches, as well as whether administrative lapses contributed to it and investigate other related issues.

The committee would present its findings and recommendations to the board within 15 days.

Mr Quartey, who presented documents containing the school's rules and regulations to the members to facilitate their work, called on them to thoroughly investigate the matter, stressing that their finding, should not only be beneficial to the school, but to other educational institutions and the Ministry of Education.

Most Reverend Daniel Allotey, Bishop of the Cape Coast Dioceses of the Anglican church, called on teachers, students, parents, stakeholders and the committee members to "give a true meaning to the investigations", which he said must be carried out objectively, "so that any emotions that has been destabilized would be taken care of". He called on the Muslim community to exercise restraint, saying, "both Muslims and Christians belong to one ancestor" and that, "we are all descendants of Abraham and must do things in common". Rev. Adu-Acheampong on behalf of the members thanked the school authorities for the trust reposed in them and pledged that they would be dispassionate in their deliberations and promptly report their findings. Alhaji Abdulsalami Adam, Central Regional Manager of the Islamic Education Unit, who is also a member of the committee, thanked the school for including a representative of the Muslim community in the enquiry and also pledged their support.

He said a Muslim prayer for the soul of Rahman, after which a minute's silence was also observed in his memory. Other members of the committee are Mr Darko Yeboah, old student and a lawyer, Ms Charlotte Impraim, staff representative, Mr Eric Amar, PTA representative and Mr Kwadwo Asiedu-Gyimah, Assistant Headmaster in charge of Administration, as the secretary.

It would be recalled that on March 16 this year, Master Rahman, a final year science student died instantly when he jumped from the fourth floor of the school's, new classroom block, when the Senior House Master Mr Joseph Opare went to lock it up at about 0700 hours.

Rahman was among other students, who had failed to attend the school's church service and were hiding there.

The incident, resulted in the closure of the school on Monday March 17, but the final year students, returned on March 24 2008, to enable them prepare for their final examination.