School boy drowns in manhole at School

Tema, July 29, GNA – Pupils of Nancy International School at Dawhenya near Tema, were on Thursday thrown into a state of mourning when a four-year-old pupil of the school fell and drowned in an uncovered manhole.

David Dan-Doe, the crèche pupil, was pulled out dead by an employee of his father, after falling into the manhole while playing with his friends.

The mortal remains of the boy has since been deposited at the Tema General Hospital morgue.

Mr Benjamin Dan-Doe, the father of the deceased, told the Ghana News Agency on Friday that he received a call from Mr Benson, a teacher of the school on Thursday informing him that the school had conducted a roll call during which his son was not present.

Mr Dan-Doe said when he rushed to the school, he saw his son dead, lying beside the manhole with the teachers, pupils and residents around.

Mr Dan-Doe said some of the pupils told him that his son was allegedly pushed into the pit by one of his friends when they were playing, and that immediately after the incident, they informed one of the teachers who claimed he could not go into the pit to rescue the boy because he would get dirty.

He said information of the incident, reached one of his employees who rushed to the place and tried to rescue David, but before he got to the scene, the boy was already dead.

Mr John Kwabena Akumani, Headmaster of the school, denied the allegation that the teachers looked on unconcerned while the boy was dying.

Mr Akumani explained that two teachers dived into the manhole, but could not recue David.

According to the headmaster it took the teachers and two other onlookers more than 20 minutes trying to rescue the boy, until the father’s employee dived in and removed him.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Seth Doe, Crime Officer of the Prampram District Police, confirmed the incident, and said the owner of the manhole and the proprietress of the School have been invited to assist the Police in investigations.

ASP Doe added that his outfit was in the process of transferring the corpse from the Tema General Hospital to the Police Hospital Morgue.