Eight Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates from Nangbagu Yapala M/A JHS in the Northern Region were involved in a road accident on their way to write Tuesday’s paper at the Tamale Secondary School (Tamasco) examination centre in the Sagnarigu Municipality.

The tragic incident occurred about 5km from the exam site when the tricycle transporting the students collided with a motorbike carrying a man and his wife. The motorcyclist died on the spot, while his wife and all eight students sustained various degrees of injuries.

A supervisor accompanying the candidates, Mr Abdulai Mohammed, recounted that the accident happened after the tricycle’s steering reportedly locked, causing the rider to lose control and crash into the motorbike.

“We got another means to carry them to the Tamale West Hospital, but because of the ongoing strike, it took a while before they managed to get two nurses and one doctor to attend to them,” Mr Mohammed explained.

He said that although the students had not been discharged, they insisted on writing the exam. However, they arrived after the first paper had already ended.

“When we got to the centre, they had finished the first paper, and the students were coming out. We isolated our students so they could write, but unfortunately, they were denied,” Mr Mohammed said.

He added that the students were devastated when they were told they would not be allowed to sit the paper. “Some of the students started collapsing upon hearing the news. As we speak, they have been rushed to the hospital again,” he said.

The situation has sparked concern among community members and education stakeholders, with many calling for urgent intervention to support the affected candidates.

Tricycles, per Ghana's laws, are not meant to be used to transport people as they are considered unsafe. Nonetheless, in many rural communities and even urban centres, people rely on it for transportation purposes, although they're largely meant to cart goods.