A tragic accident occurred at Ohia Nimguase on the Goaso-Mim Road in the Ahafo Region on Friday, September 6, 2024, claiming eight lives and leaving 32 others injured.
The Goaso Municipal Fire Station responded to the incident at 0604 hours after a Yutong Bus (AT 775 – 24), owned by Infix Wood Limited and carrying 40 passengers, collided with the rear of a Man Diesel timber truck (GR 9640 – A).
Firefighters, with assistance from the Police and Ambulance Service, managed to rescue the injured and transport them to Goaso Municipal Hospital for medical care.
The bodies of the deceased were handed over to the Police for preservation and further investigation. Meanwhile, firefighters worked to clear and wash the accident scene to restore normal traffic flow.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
71-year-old, Kwesi Baiden, is currently taking part in the ongoing 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at the Ahafoman Senior High School examination center ‘B’ in Goaso, Ahafo Region.
The father of four disclosed that he was unable to attend basic school and obtain a certificate due to financial constraints in his early years.
Initially enrolled at Mozama D/A School in the Central Region, he had to discontinue his studies at Junior High School (JHS) 2 due to financial challenges.
Despite planning to resume his education the following year, his plans were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nevertheless, Mr. Baiden has now chosen to pursue education, acknowledging its significance.
He aims to gain vocational skills in Senior High School (SHS) and potentially proceed to higher education.
In an interview, the determined father clarified that pursuing formal education at his age is not aimed at securing a corporate job, as he has surpassed retirement age.
However, Mr. Baiden believes his abilities and newfound knowledge will create new opportunities for him.
His resilience and persistence serve as an inspiration, proving that it is never too late to pursue educational aspirations.
As flames engulfed their newly erected building in Goaso, inhabitants hurriedly collected their belongings from their rooms.
Anger flared among them as they pointed fingers at the fire service for its absence during the crisis.
Despite the chaos, neighbors are seen in a video banded together to offer aid and support to those affected.
In the aftermath of the devastating fire, the community mourned their losses and resolved to rebuild their lives from the ashes.
Watch post below
Residents of Goaso rush to pack their belongings from their rooms as a ravaging fire consumes their newly built building, while they blame the fire service for not showing up. pic.twitter.com/7Hx9LaYd8i
Two schools in Goaso have temporarily suspended their operations to accommodate a religious crusade unfolding at the town park. The affected educational institutions include Goaso Methodist School and Bosompra Basic School.
As per sources from GhanaWeb, additional schools across Goaso will also experience a temporary closure on Thursday and Friday to facilitate the same religious crusade, organized under the leadership of Chief Nana Akwasi Bosompra, with the theme “I am for Christ.”
During these days, regular classes will be on hold, but students are expected to don their uniforms and engage with their teachers in various activities associated with the crusade.
According to the source, “schools have been closed since yesterday at around 9 am, as they are utilizing the town park for a crusade known as ‘I am for Christ,’ which is championed by the Goaso Chief.”
This temporary suspension of school activities is slated to last for a week to ensure that the religious event does not disrupt the usual educational proceedings.
During an event commemorating the 15th anniversary of his ascension to the throne, the Paramount Chief of Goaso Traditional Council, Nana Kwasi Bosomprah I, grew disillusioned with the commitments made by supporters of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration who addressed the gathering.
The Member of Parliament for the Asunafo North and Deputy Minister for Sports, Evans Opoku Bobie and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Asunafo North, Osei Yaw Boahen, were at the receiving end of the chief’s frustration.
The MCE promised that the government would soon complete the refurbishment of one of the major roads in the district, the Goaso Roundabout to Juaban Extension road.
“As fowls drink water in bits so is the construction of Goaso Roundabout to Juaban Extension road going and it would be completed soon,” Yaw Boahen said in Twi.
Nana Kwasi Bosomprah, in his speech at the event which was held at Goaso, on August 27, 2023, expressed his dissatisfaction with the statement made by the MCE.
“The MCE said that fowls drink water in bits but now this is not the case. Fowls no longer take water in bits, they glob it.
“Look at this road we are living with and how the dust is killing us and you are telling us that you are doing it in bits. If I tell you that I agree with you then it is a lie,” he said.
The deputy minister for sports also said that the government would soon come to cut sod for the construction of an astroturf, promised.
The chief, in his response, said that he is tired of attending sod cutting events and should not be invited to sod cutting for the astroturf.
“When the MP was also speaking, he said that very soon there would be a sod cutting (for the astroturf). If he invites me to the event, I would not attend.
“I want the MP to say that the very day the sod cutting is done is the very day the construction would start because I’m tired of these promises. I’m no longer going to attend sod cutting events,” he fumed.
Paramount Chief of Goaso Traditional Council, Nana Kwasi Bosomprah I, has declared his exasperation towards the government‘s failure to complete projects, despite cutting sods for the initiation of new projects.
Speaking during an event to mark the 15th anniversary of his enstoolment, he stated that he is fed up with promises being made yet not being fulfilled. He has thus stated that he will not attend an upcoming sod cutting event even if the Member of Parliament for the area invites him.
“When the MP was also speaking, he said that very soon there would be a sod cutting (for the astroturf). If he invites me to the event, I would not attend.
“I want the MP to say that the very day the sod cutting is done is the very day the construction would start because I’m tired of these promises. I’m no longer going to attend sod cutting events,” he fumed.
The frustration of the chief was directed towards the Member of Parliament for Asunafo North and Deputy Minister for Sports, Evans Opoku Bobie, as well as the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Asunafo North, Osei Yaw Boahen.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) pledged that the government would shortly finish the renovation of a significant road in the district, namely the Goaso Roundabout to Juaban Extension road.
“As fowls drink water in bits, so is the construction of Goaso Roundabout to Juaban Extension road going and it will be completed soon,” Yaw Boahen said in Twi.
During the event held in Goaso on August 27, 2023, Nana Kwasi Bosomprah voiced his displeasure with the statement made by the MCE.
“The MCE said that fowls drink water in bits but now this is not the case. Fowls no longer take water in bits, they glob it.
“Look at this road we are living with and how the dust is killing us and you are telling us that you are doing it in bits. If I tell you that I agree with you then it is a lie,” he said.
The deputy minister for sports also said that the government would soon come to cut sod for the construction of an astroturf, promised.
The chief, in his response, said that he is tired of attending sod cutting events and should not be invited to sod cutting for the astroturf.
The Awuku family, residing in Goaso within the Ahafo Region, is grappling with a mysterious eye ailment that has afflicted several of its members.
Among the ten family members, which includes their parents, five males have lost their sight, while one of the three females is displaying symptoms of the same affliction.
In an interview with Kofi Adoma Nwanwani on his Kofi TV channel, the family revealed that none of the five male children were born blind. Rather, the symptoms began to manifest when each of them reached four months of age. These symptoms involve eye tremors and blurred vision, particularly in the evenings.
The family’s plight is exacerbated by financial difficulties, as they lack a source of income. Their mother, who used to be the family’s sole breadwinner, passed away from a stroke in 2021, and their father suffered a gunshot injury to his eye. Consequently, none of them are gainfully employed, making life extremely challenging.
Securing even one meal a day has become a daunting task, and they also face challenges in maintaining healthy relationships with women.
Joshua Awuku mentioned that, with assistance from the public, he could establish an Information Center in his community to generate income and provide support for his family.
Nana Akwasi Bosompra I, the Omanhene of Goaso traditional area, has announced that individuals without an NHIS card will be denied entry to his palace in an effort to promote the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and improve access to affordable healthcare.
Nana Akwasi Bosompra I emphasized the importance of the NHIS as an intervention aimed at addressing the healthcare and economic needs of his community. During a visit by a delegation from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), led by CEO Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, Nana Kwasi Bosompra stated that NHIA registration has become mandatory for every household under his Traditional Council.
He believes that NHIS membership will enable his people to access quality healthcare services at an affordable cost.
The Omanhene appealed to traditional leaders across the country to play an active role in encouraging people to register for the NHIS. He emphasized the significant role of chiefs in ensuring that every Ghanaian has access to medical insurance and stressed the need to revitalize community involvement in NHIS affairs.
“If you want to summon anyone, you must come with an NHIA card. If you can get money to litigate then you surely must have money to for health insurance. I’m introducing this innovation to use the powers we have to help our people. As traditional rulers, sometimes we have to force our people to do the right thing”, he said.
Dr. Okoe Boye thanked the Goaso Omanhene for his generous donation of the piece of land used for the construction of the NHIA Regional office and the two other district offices.
According to Dr. Okoe Boye, chiefs are revered as key stakeholders to the sustenance of the Scheme, hence they must come on board and actively play the role as ambassadors.
The NHIA Chief Executive’s delegation earlier conferred on the Ahafo Regional Minister, Hon. George Yaw Boakye who joined the team to inaugurate the newly built projects.
The Regional Director, Mr. Alexander Fordjour, the Goaso Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Yaw Osei Boahene, the Municipal Director of Ghana Health Service, Mr. Matthew Amponsah, and other stakeholders witnessed the inaugural ceremony.
The NHIA Chief Executive’s delegation was made up of his Executive Assistant, Mr. Gabriel Osei, the Ag. Director of Admin/Human Resources, Mr. Raymond Avinu , Ag. Director of Procurement, Mr. Frank Yeboah, Ag. Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Madam Vida Adutwumwaa Boateng and selected staff from the NHIA head office.
