Eight candidates from Nangbagu Yapala M/A JHS in the Northern Region were involved in a road accident on their way to write the BECE at the Tamale Secondary School (Tamasco) examination centre in the Sagnarigu Municipality on Tuesday.
The accident happened approximately 5km from the exam centre when the tricycle transporting the students collided with a motorcycle carrying a man and his wife. The motorcyclist died instantly, while his wife and all eight students sustained varying degrees of injuries.
According to supervisor Abdulai Mohammed, the tricycle’s steering reportedly locked, causing the rider to lose control and crash. The injured were taken to the Tamale West Hospital, but due to the ongoing medical strike, it took some time before two nurses and a doctor could attend to them.
Despite their condition, the students insisted on sitting the exam. However, by the time they reached the centre, the first paper had already concluded. Efforts to isolate them and allow them to write were unsuccessful.
“The students were heartbroken when they were told they couldn’t take the paper. Some collapsed from the shock and had to be rushed back to the hospital,” Mr. Mohammed said.
The incident has raised concerns among residents and education stakeholders, who are calling for immediate support for the affected candidates.
Although tricycles are legally restricted from transporting passengers in Ghana due to safety concerns, they are widely used in rural and urban areas for commuting, despite being designed primarily for carrying goods.
