Nine passengers made up of five males and four females on board a sprinter bus with registration number BA 2423-12 perished in an accident at Amanfoso near Nsoatre on the Sunyani-Berekum highway yesterday evening in the Brong Ahafo Region.
According to the police the driver of the Sprinter bus was driving on top speed and had the right rear tyre burst, losing control of the steering wheel and landed in a pit at the side of the road.
Briefing The Ghanaian Times here Superintendent Stella Sedemeh, Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Deparrtment (MTTD) commander said 23 passengers all mourners from Biadan in the Berekum Municipality on board the Sprinter bus were returning from Wamahinso in the Asutifi North District after attending a funeral of a former Assemblyman of Biadan when the accident occurred.
The commander said the rest of the 14 injured were removed from the wreckage by a combined team of police and fire personnel to the Berekum Holy Family Hospital for treatment while the dead bodies have been deposited at the regional hospital mortuary in Sunyani for autopsy.
Superintendent Sedemeh said the police were investigating the cause of the accident and cautioned drivers plying that stretch of the road to be extra careful, noting that the area was prone to accidents due to the steepy nature of the road.
She also called on the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) to mount sign post at the accident spot to educate drivers on the need to slow down whenever they reach the area.
Meanwhile during our visit to Biadan, the entire community had gathered with the nine families of the departed to finalise preparations towards their burial.
Wonder Amo Appau and George Hinneh, Assemby Members for Biadan East and West told The Ghanaian Times that the tragedy was the first of its kind to have hit the town and that the chiefs and elders have decided to organise a mass funeral for the departed souls on May 26.
Mr Amo said all the 23 passengers on board the vehicle were from the Biadan community, and that the incident had affected a number of families in the area.
He said Aunty Mary, a 75-year -old and her 42-year -old son, Atta and three siblings; Bediako Michael, Issifu Kramo and Barima Kramo were among the dead
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