By: Nana Kwasi Appiah
Israela Aggrey, a student of Achimota Senior High School, has passed away amid allegations of negligence by school authorities.
The mother of the late Israela Aggrey, Clementina Erchiah, has raised concerns about what she describes as a lack of responsibility and transparency on the part of the school authorities in handling her daughter’s medical emergency and the events leading to her death.
Speaking to our reporter, Clementina Erchiah said that, based on the sequence of events communicated to her, she believes critical information surrounding her daughter’s condition and the school’s response prior to her transfer to Achimota Hospital has not been fully disclosed.
She expressed concern that she was not informed at any point that her daughter was unwell until she received an emergency call at about 9:00 p.m. on Friday, December 5, instructing her to rush to the hospital.
Ms. Erchiah reiterated that the call came from the housemistress, popularly known as Aunty Dorothy, who is in charge of Atta Mills House, and that by the time she arrived at Achimota Hospital, her daughter had already passed away.
She said medical personnel later explained that Israela arrived at the hospital without oxygen in her system and could not be resuscitated.
According to Ms. Erchiah, the absence of prior communication from the school about her daughter’s condition, coupled with the lack of clarity on what immediate support was provided to Israela before she was rushed to the hospital, has left her with unresolved questions.
She said she believes the school has yet to give a clear account of what transpired on campus before the emergency call was made.
She further disclosed that after her daughter’s death on Friday, there was no immediate official engagement from the school authorities until the following Monday, when she received a phone call from the Assistant Headmaster of Achimota Senior High School to arrange a visit to the bereaved family. She said the visit did not take place as discussed.
Ms. Erchiah added that the only physical visit following the incident was from the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Chairman, who came to the family home with some drinks and bottled water.
Beyond that, she said the school administration has not been present or actively engaged with the family in a manner she considers adequate, given the gravity of the situation.
She maintained that while she acknowledges the emotional difficulty of the circumstances, her primary concern remains the need for accountability and full disclosure from the school regarding how her daughter was handled in her moment of distress and whether appropriate and timely measures were taken before she was sent to the hospital.
Ms. Erchiah said she continues to seek answers from Achimota Senior High School, insisting that clarity on the events of that night is essential for her family and for ensuring that similar incidents are prevented in the future.
Meanwhile, when contacted by this reporter, the housemistress of Atta Mills House, Madam Dorothy, declined to speak on the matter. She, however, stated that she had duly briefed the school authorities about the unfortunate incident that occurred on campus.