Etornam Gorni, Independence Day parade casualty buried

Etornam Gorni, the 14 year-old pupil of the SDA Junior High School, who collapsed and died during rehearsals for the Independence Day Parade, has been buried at Gorni-Kope in the Akatsi District.

Hundreds of school children with red wrist bands, teachers, government officials and other mourners filed past her body dressed in her school uniform and in a sitting position as schools in the Ho Township were closed for the funeral service.

The funeral occurred at the Ho Police Training School Park.

Etornam, Daughter of Corporal Atsu Gorni, was born on September 30, 1998 in Hohoe, and was hale and healthy when she went for the rehearsal where she collapsed and was rushed to the hospital but all attempts to revive her proved futile.

Mr Henry Ametefe, Deputy Volta Regional Minister, said President John Evans Atta Mills had called from the United States instructing him to convey his regrets for the loss to the family and school.

He said the President had donated some money to the parents of Etornam and added another donation of GH¢ 1,000, to the family through Mr Doe Adjaho, First Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament for Ave-Avenor.

He said the Regional Coordinating Council, Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service and the assembly collaborated with the family to organise the funeral.

Mr Ametefe said it was unfortunate that such a fate fell on Etornam, a descendant of Corporal Attipoe, killed in the 28th February 1948 Christiansborg Crossroads Shooting, dying in preparations for the nation’s independence day activities.

Reverend Godwin Yao Agboado, Ho District Pastor of the SDA Church, said it was difficult to understand certain events because God’s ways are different.

There was a brief sketch, by colleagues of Etornam showing her role in the school’s female football team. **