<<Print>>

Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday pledged government�s commitment to support families of the Senya-Breku accident victims including the injured and provide a befitting burial for the dead. He said government has provided GHȼ10,000 to the families of the deceased to prepare for the burial of their relatives and to cater for the medical bills of those hospitalised. Vice President Mahama gave the assurance when he was conducted round the accident scene at Senya Breku in the Central Region and the victims at the Winneba Hospital. In all, 27 children between the ages of 13 and 16 lost their lives and have been deposited at the Winneba hospital mortuary, while 32 others who sustained multiple injuries have been admitted at various hospitals. Vice President Mahama, who was accompanied by Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe, Regional Minister and Mr Adams Nuhu, Senya-Breku District Chief Executive and Assistant Commissioner of Police Awugbutoge Awuni, expressed regret that most of the victims were children who could have become useful citizens in future. He warned against the use of rickety vehicles on the roads. Nai Kwa Bentum IV, Tufohene of Senya-Breku, who narrated the incident to Vice President Mahama said at exactly 2150 hours, Mr Edu Feni, 40, the driver of a water tanker, asked for a push to start his defective vehicle. He said after the engine had started, the driver, noticed that the breaks of the vehicle was not working and lost control, leading to the crashing of the a crowd enjoying music on the main road, causing the death of 15 children on the spot. He said 12 others died later while 32, who sustained various degrees of injuries had been hospitalised. Meanwhile, the driver who also sustained some injuries is being treated in police custody pending further investigations. The accident vehicle is however abandoned at the accident scene at Senya-Breku.