Kids' Dreams Scare Teachers

Teachers of the AME Zion Basic School at Gomoa Afransi in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region have abandoned the school, following the mysterious deaths of three teachers within a short period.

The deaths in the school were predicted by students who claimed they saw it all in dreams.

The three teachers died within a period of three years and in separate interviews with residents of the town, students and schoolauthorities, they all believed that witches and wizards were behind the strange deaths of the teachers.

The names of the teachers are Messrs Richard Akwatey, Amankwa and Justice Mensah. According to a source, Mr Richard Akwatey died first and later Mr Amankwa followed, then a year later, Mr Justice Mensah.

According to the source, all the teachers died after being ill for a short period, with Mr Justice Mensah only complaining of a headache just before he died.

The recent death of Mr Justice Mensah, the Primary Five teacher and a report by a student that he had a dream about the death of another teacher before December this year has triggered the departure of teachers from the school.

This has reduced the teaching staff of 16 to nine. There are fears that the remaining teachers would also look for other schools to move to.

According to a source close to the school, five pastors had visited the school to pray for the staff and students as a way of exorcising the evil spirits which had caused the deaths.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Gomoa East District Office of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Gabrah, told the Junior Graphic that the directorate was aware of the situation in the school and had set up a committee to investigate the matter.

The AME Zion Basic School, which was established in the 1980s, has a population of 250 students, but given the rate at which parents are withdrawing their children, the figure is questionable.

A reliable source close to the school informed the Junior Graphic that the headteacher had written a report on the situation in the school entitled, “Death Cases at AME Zion Basic School at Afransi”, which was delivered at the beginning of the term to the Gomoa East District Office of the GES upon request.

The school, which is located at Gyasihene Brom at Afransi, is in a deplorable state and runs kindergarten, primary and junior high school (JHS) departments but lacks the needed facilities to make teaching and learning conducive.

The school block is an uncompleted structure, with some of the classrooms having coconut fronds for their roofing.