Five Cooks Escape Death

Five cooks of the Oda Secondary School(ODASCO) escaped death narrowly when part of the kitchen complex of the school collapsed on them last Saturday.

The victims,Madam Kate Adonteng,Madam Barbara Amoah, Madam Bernice Serwaa,Madam Theresa Asumeng and Madam Emelia Amoah who sustained various degrees of injury were rushed to the Oda Government Hospital for treatment.

Briefing the Minister of Education and Sports,Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo,about the incident, Mr David Afosah-Anim,headmaster of ODASCO,said while the cooks were preparing supper for the students last Saturday evening, a rainstorm ripped off the roof of the kitchen complex which had been under rehabilitation.

He said the roof of the building fell heavily on the women,trapping them in the process,and leading to the destruction of the entire food being prepared for the students.

Mr Afosah-Anim said it took a rescue team of students and masters of the school sometime to remove the injured women from the wreckage.

Mr Afosah-Anim has since reported the incident to the Birim South District Director of Education,Mrs Stella Nanor,who visited the injured cooks at the hospital.

Mr Afosah-Anim gave the cost of damage to the kitchen and food items at more than ¢100 million.He made a passionate appeal to the government for immediate assistance to avoid the closure of the school.

Mr Osafo-Maafo expressed his sympathy to the staff and students of the school for the unfortunate incident.

He,however, advised the school authorities to make a formal complaint in writing to his ministry for immediate action since the school could not operate without the kitchen.