Breaking: Ajumako Mourns: Tragic Accident Claims Two Young Lives

On a calm Tuesday morning in Ajumako, the bustling township in the Central Region of Ghana, life took a heartbreaking turn. Just in front of the GN Bank, a spot that is normally filled with traders, students, and early workers heading to their various destinations, a tragic accident occurred—an accident that snatched away the lives of two innocent children from the same mother.

The Morning Routine

It was around 7:20 a.m., a time when the township of Ajumako is alive with activity. Mothers are seen escorting their children to school, taxis and commercial buses honk as they pick up passengers, and shop owners hurriedly arrange their wares for the day’s business. Among the crowd was a young mother, Madam Afua Nyarkoa, walking with her two children, ten‑year‑old Efua Mensah and her little brother, seven‑year‑old Kojo Mensah. The two children, dressed in their neatly ironed school uniforms, held each other’s hands as they chatted happily about their lessons and the games they would play during break time.

Their mother, who sells vegetables at the local market, had decided to walk them to school that morning because their father had traveled. She held their lunch packs in one hand and with the other hand gently guided them along the narrow side of the main road, keeping them close to her body.

The Dangerous Crossing

As they approached the GN Bank area, the road became busier. Drivers often speed along that stretch, unaware or indifferent to the heavy pedestrian activity, particularly in the morning. According to eyewitnesses, a big delivery truck was parked partly on the shoulder of the road, forcing pedestrians to step a little further into the main lane as they passed.

Madam Nyarkoa paused, looked to her left and right, and began to cross with the children. They had taken only a few steps when tragedy struck.

The Reckless Driver

A white mini‑bus, popularly known as a “trotro,” was speeding from the Breman side toward Ajumako. Witnesses later said the driver was attempting to overtake another vehicle without slowing down, despite the obvious presence of schoolchildren and market women along the roadside. In a matter of seconds, the bus swerved, lost control, and skidded dangerously toward the side of the road—directly toward the young family.

A loud screech of brakes pierced the morning air, followed by the sickening thud of metal against fragile human bodies. Before anyone could scream or react, Efua and Kojo were hit. Their small bodies were flung a few meters away, landing in front of the bank entrance.

The Immediate Aftermath

Panic erupted. Traders abandoned their goods, rushing toward the scene. Drivers stopped their vehicles and honked in alarm. Madam Nyarkoa fell to her knees, wailing as she crawled toward her children. Efua was motionless, her schoolbag still strapped to her back. Kojo, her younger brother, lay a few feet away, breathing faintly but covered in blood from a deep gash on his head.

Good Samaritans lifted the children and hailed a passing taxi, rushing them to the Ajumako District Hospital. The driver of the trotro, in a state of shock, attempted to run but was quickly apprehended by bystanders and handed over to the police.

At the Hospital

Doctors and nurses did all they could. Efua was pronounced dead on arrival, her injuries far too severe. Kojo was taken into the emergency ward, but within minutes, his small heart gave out. The news broke Madam Nyarkoa completely; her screams echoed through the hospital corridor, a sound that those present say they will never forget.

Two young lives, full of promise and dreams, had been extinguished in an instant.

A Town in Mourning

News of the tragedy spread like wildfire throughout Ajumako. By mid‑morning, hundreds of people had gathered near the GN Bank area, recounting what they saw and expressing anger at the reckless driving that had caused the loss. Teachers and pupils from the children’s school walked in a somber procession to the accident site, some carrying flowers, others simply standing in silence with tears in their eyes.

The District Chief Executive and other local leaders visited the bereaved family later in the day. “This is a painful loss, not just for the mother, but for the entire Ajumako community,” one elder said. “These children were our future. We must demand better road safety.”

Calls for Action

This accident is not an isolated event. Residents point out that the stretch of road in front of the GN Bank has been dangerous for years. Speeding drivers, lack of proper pedestrian crossings, and the absence of traffic wardens have turned the area into a death trap.

Mr. Kweku Appiah, a trader whose shop is near the bank, shared his frustration:

“Almost every week we see accidents here. Sometimes it is a taxi hitting a motorbike, sometimes it is a big truck pushing a car into the gutter. But today’s one is different—two children, from the same mother, gone just like that. When will authorities wake up?”

Parents expressed fear about letting their children walk to school. Some suggested building speed ramps, others called for the immediate posting of police officers during school hours.

Remembering Efua and Kojo

Efua was known in her class as a brilliant and lively pupil who loved to draw. Her exercise books were filled with sketches of flowers and animals, and her teachers often praised her for her creativity. Kojo, on the other hand, was the quiet one—shy but very curious, always asking questions and helping his mother in the evenings at her vegetable stall.

At home, their absence left an unimaginable void. Neighbors gathered to comfort Madam Nyarkoa, who sat on a low stool in front of her house, staring into space. Her husband, upon hearing the news while away in Accra, rushed back to Ajumako, his tears flowing freely as he embraced his grieving wife.

“We were just planning for their future,” he said, his voice trembling. “Efua wanted to become a nurse. Kojo wanted to be a teacher. Now they are gone. What will we do?”

A Community’s Prayer

As night fell over Ajumako, candles were lit at the accident site. Residents gathered, holding hands, singing hymns, and praying for the souls of the departed children. Some knelt on the cold ground, others raised their voices in anger and pain, but all shared the same grief.

The District Assembly has since promised to work with the Ghana Highways Authority to install speed ramps and pedestrian crossings in the area. The police have also assured the public that the driver, who is now in custody, will face the full rigor of the law.

But no amount of promises or infrastructure will bring back Efua and Kojo. Their short lives serve as a painful reminder that road safety is not just about vehicles and laws—it is about the value we place on human lives, especially the lives of the young and vulnerable.

Final Farewell

Preparations are underway for a joint burial service. The local church has offered its premises, and many have pledged to support the grieving family. Teachers, classmates, market women, and drivers have all promised to attend, to honor the memory of the two little angels whose journey on earth ended far too soon.

On the day of the burial, the streets of Ajumako will fall silent, if only for a moment, as the community bids farewell to Efua and Kojo—two bright lights extinguished in a senseless accident, but forever remembered in the hearts of all who knew them.

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