Seven to probe student's death

25-04-08
Page 3


A SEVEN-member committee has been set up by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to investigate circumstances that led to the death of Master Gafaru Abdul Rahman, a final-year student of Adisadel College.
The committee, which is chaired by Mr Duah Adonteng, Managing Director of Ghana Post, has been given up to May 16, 2008 to submit its report.
The terms of reference are to investigate the routine Sunday activities of the school, and find out whether the activities breached the school rules and regulation, as well as government policies in education.
In addition, it is to find out whether members of staff on duty were performing their official duties or not, whether there had been any petition either from a student or parent with regard to Sunday morning routine activities and how the students had access to the new block.
The committee would also to find out whether the students found in the block were all Moslems or not, the general state of affairs in the school with regard to discipline, the extent of co-operation among members of staff in enforcing discipline in the school and to investigate any other related issues and make recommendations on the findings.
Master Abdul Rahman allegedly jumped to his death when a senior housemaster of the school went to lock the block, which had been inaugurated a week earlier. The block had not been opened for use but students were said to be using it.
Inaugurating the committee, the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Prof Dominic Fobih, charged the members to come out with the truth to clear the circumstances that led to the death of the student.
He said the inauguration of the committee was an expression of the government’s commitment to ensuring that education was accessible to all, irrespective of race, religion, or status.
“I have considered it expedient to constitute this committee to look at the circumstances that led to the Adisadel College incident and to use this to review generally the management of such situations in all second cycle institutions with the view to establishing appropriate guidelines for all second cycle schools,” he emphasised.
Prof Fobih said issues of discipline had become an important subject in modern times not only because of its effect on the development of the individual and institutions, but because it was a necessary prerequisite for the development of every society.
Mr Adonteng assured the minister that the task given the committee would be carried out effectively.
He said the committee would leave no stone unturned in unravelling the truth, saying that “it is our privilege and obligation to respond to this national calling”.
The other members of the committee are the Omanhene of Mamfe Akuapem, Osabarima Nana Ansah Sasraku III, former head and representative of Conference of Managers of Education Units (COMEU), Very Rev Dr Richard Foli and the General Manager of Islamic Schools, Alhaji Arimeyao Shaibu.
The rest are the parent-teacher association (PTA) Chairman of the school, Dr Fiifi Mensah; the Managing Director of Phonix Insurance, Mrs Aeo Nkani and the Regional Security Co-ordinator, Air Commodore (Retd) Richard Awuku.