The Deputy Education Minister, Rev John Ntim Fordjour is in Kumasi to assess state of affairs in respect of the riotous incident involving students of the Islamic Senior High School which led to the hospitalisation of over 20 of them.

Spokesperson for the Education Ministry, Kwasi Kwarteng who disclosed the visit to JoyNews explained that Rev Ntim Fordjour will work in hand with the Ashanti Regional Minister to assess the situation in order to make decisions moving forward.

“The Regional Minister and the Deputy Minister for Education are supposed to have a discussion on the whole issue, have an assessment for themselves to understand what really happened and of course from there, they will be able to advise and all consequential decisions will be made,” he said on Top Story, Monday.

He said while the Education Ministry will not overlook such a situation, it is prudent for the Ministry not to take hasty decisions.

This, he noted is the reason for the Minister’s visit to Kumasi to immediately ascertain the situation.

Rev Ntim Fordjour also paid visit to victims who have been hospitalized at Suntreso Government Hospital due to the protest.

He said the Education Ministry will officially put out a statement after the Ministry is done with its own assessment of the situation.

About 25 students were hospitalised after Police allegedly opened tear gas on them while they were protesting frequent crashes of pedestrians in front of the School.

The victims were said to be part of a group of students who blocked the Abrepo Junction-Barekese road during the protest.

Sources say the Police personnel were deployed to the School to maintain law and order.

The angry students massed up on the road in protest, as they called for construction of speed ramps on that section of the road.

Ambulance Service

The National Ambulance Service has pegged the number of victims admitted to hospital, at 25.

Regional Director of the Service, Sommit Duut, says all the victims are responding to treatment.

He, however, stressed that they have not treated any traumatic injury like that of gunshot wounds. According to him, the students rather suffered respiratory distress.

“All that we treated were just difficulty in breathing and people who were exhausted – we didn’t have any bloody situation.

IGP's visit

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare subsequently paid a visit to the school to get first-hand details of the incident.

The visit was part of investigations being conducted by the Police administration.

Dr. George Akuffo Dampare after his visit, assured students and Management of the school that he will look into the conduct of Police officers deployed for crowd control during their protest.

Dr. George Akuffo-Dampare, while addressing the students on Monday after the incident, said investigations will be conducted into the matter to ensure the necessary action is taken.

“I also want to assure you that whatever happened in terms of the policing aspect of it, we are going to look into it and take all actions that need to be taken to ensure that at the end of the day, the right thing is done, professionalism is deepened in a manner that will not put anybody’s lives at risk because as Police, we are here to protect lives and property and if we cannot do that, we might have failed our duties and our mandates and it is something that we do not want to do,” he said.

The IGP also noted that authorities will ensure speed ramps would be constructed in front of the school to reduce the incessant road accidents which precipitated the protest.

“As soon as I touched base and went round and saw the dangers that you are exposed to, I made a couple of calls and urban roads and its leadership have accepted to quickly come around and ensure that the right thing is done to save your lives to live to your full potential.

“We are going to monitor to see to its full accomplishment, so that each life will be protected,” he added.