Four pupils of Mahad Islamic School at Akotosu have died, while three others sustained injuries after a Hyundai van crashed into them at Aboabo Extension Junction in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
The accident occurred on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, as the children were reportedly preparing to cross the road after school.
Eyewitnesses said the van was travelling from the Aboabo Post Office area towards the Airport Roundabout when the driver reportedly lost control while descending a slope. The vehicle veered onto the pavement, where the children were waiting to cross, and struck all seven.
The four deceased pupils have been identified as Juraid Mohammed, Anisah Ibrahim, Fati Muniru and Raiyan Faisal. They were pronounced dead on arrival at the Manhyia District Hospital.
Two of the injured children, 12-year-old Laila Muniru and five-year-old Bushira Musapha, were reported to be in critical condition and referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
The third victim, six-year-old Saisa Bila, was receiving treatment at the Manhyia District Hospital and was reported to be in stable condition.
The driver is in police custody, while the damaged vehicle has been impounded as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The incident has renewed calls for urgent road safety measures along the busy stretch. The headmaster of the School of Islamic Studies, Bawa Abdul-Rahman, has appealed to the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly and other relevant authorities to construct a footbridge to protect schoolchildren and other pedestrians.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Asokore Mampong, Ben Abdallah Alhassan, has said the Assembly will consider the proposal following a technical assessment by road engineers.
In the meantime, the Assembly is working with the Municipal Education Directorate to ensure that adults or designated school officials help pupils cross the road safely.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 22, the Ghana Education Service (GES) expressed condolences to the bereaved families and the school community, while wishing the injured pupils a speedy recovery.
It urged motorists and other road users to prioritise the safety of schoolchildren.
