38 Students Collapse Over Mayor’s Long Speech

The unending speech of the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Isaac Ashai Odamtten had a negative effect on pupils and security personnel, who took part in this year’s Independence Day parade held in the metropolis.

A total of 38 school children from some selected schools who participated in Ghana’s 59th independence celebration held at the Tema Sports Stadium collapsed as a result of the long speech by the mayor.

Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) were the first to collapse after the mayor virtually used the celebration to campaign and promote the agenda of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Personnel from the Ghana Ambulance Service and Red Cross quickly resuscitated the security personnel after some few minutes.

The pupils collapsed subsequently, compelling First Aid and Red Cross officers to move around the venue to transport the weak ones.

The health personnel had a tough time conveying the weak pupils from the turf onto the canopy mounted nearby where they were revived with the help of some nurses at post.

According to reports, the MCE used not less than 43 minutes and 42 seconds to address the children, security personnel and others who were standing in the scorching sun.

The MCE propagated the achievements of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Tema and the country as whole.

He later gave the speech in Twi and Ga which compelled the audience to whisper incessantly.

The MCE said over the past seven years, the NDC government had upheld good governance and accountability under the leadership of the youthful President John Dramani Mahama.’

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He showered praises on the President for introducing several beneficial programmes to assist the people of Tema.

Mr Odamtten mentioned the construction of major roads, distribution of free school uniforms to school children and expansion of the school feeding programme, among others, as some of the achievements.

The MCE appealed to the eligible voters to take part in the impending limited biometric registration exercise by the Electoral Commission (EC) in order to take part in the November 7 general elections.

Information gathered by DAILY GUDE indicated that the Astroturf at the Sports Stadium produces excessive heat in the day which sometimes compels the managers of the facility to water the pitch during football matches to prevent the exhaustion of the football players.