The two pupils of Alice Elite Academy who tragically lost their lives in a school bus accident have been laid to rest at Assin Kwafokrom in the Assin South District of the Central Region.
The emotional burial ceremony was marked by deep sorrow as family members, school authorities, classmates, and residents gathered to pay their final respects to the young victims whose lives were cut short.
The accident occurred on Tuesday, June 2, 2024, when a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter bus with registration number AS 2218-20, conveying more than 40 pupils from the preparatory school at Assin Edubiase, lost control and plunged into the Kotwea River along the Assin Adubiase–Homaho stretch. A boy and a girl, both aged between three and five years, died in the crash.
Hundreds of mourners converged at the funeral grounds, with many struggling to contain their grief. Schoolchildren in uniform joined teachers and officials of Alice Elite Academy to mourn their departed colleagues. Family members were seen weeping uncontrollably as sympathisers offered comfort and support.
A resident who lost a close connection to one of the victims told Channel One News: “I panic whenever I wake up. My child was very close to one of the deceased. He wakes up every morning asking of his friend.”
The incident has reignited calls from residents and community leaders for stricter enforcement of road safety measures, especially regarding the transportation of schoolchildren.
Meanwhile, the driver of the bus, Charles Aidoo, 41, has been remanded into police custody after being charged with careless and inconsiderate driving. He is expected to reappear in court on June 12.
The Principal of Alice Elite Academy, Madam Alice, who was also arrested in connection with the incident, has been granted police inquiry bail on health grounds. She faces a charge of negligence as investigations continue.
All pupils who sustained injuries in the crash have since been treated and discharged from the hospital.
