School kids drown

The four school kids who drowned in the Tain River when their wooden boat capsized, have been buried by the banks of the river at the spot where the tragic incident occurred, in line with tradition.

The deceased persons, George Osei, 16, Martin Mballah, 10, Akos Yerikomah, 14 and Ataa Mballah, 13, died on Monday at Asuagya near Badu in the Tain District of the Brong Ahafo Region when the leaking canoe on which they were ‘travelling’ to school overturned and submerged in the River Tain which had overflowed its banks.

They were among nine children crossing the river that fateful morning to attend school at Badu. The other five children on the boat were rescued.

Confirming this latest development to DAILY GUIDE, the Omanhene of Badu Traditional Area, Nana Boakye Yiadom II, said he used his own money to buy a sheep, two fowls and a bottle of Schnapps gin to perform certain rituals to pacify the river goddess before the kids were buried.

Nana Boakye Yiadom rubbished media reports which suggested that he demanded money from the families of the four kids for that purpose.

Sounding angry on the telephone during the interview yesterday, he denied that he took money from any of the poor parents of the four kids to perform the rituals, stressing, “There is no iota of truth in that report. It is bogus. They should leave me alone!”

He therefore threatened to pursue the matter in court to clear his name because the publication, according to him, had thrown his name into disrepute, adding that several people including officials of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) had questioned him about the issue.

The Assemblyman for Badu East, Kwadwo Boateng, also debunked the allegation that the chief demanded money from the bereaved families.

He disclosed that the bereaved families were expected to meet the Omanhene tomorrow, Friday, to discuss how to conduct befitting final funeral rites for the victims.