Six members of a youth football academy in the Offinso Municipality of the Ashanti Region died on the spot after a KIA Pregio vehicle they were travelling in veered off the road and fell into River Offin.
Sources say, the children aged between 12 and 15 and club name African Vision, were returning from Afrancho to Offinso after undergoing colts division registration when the accident occurred.
Police say the driver of the vehicle, who was speeding, lost control of the steering wheel and veered off the road.
Divisional Commander for the Offinso Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Edmund Nyamekye narrated the incident to Citi News.
“There were 36 passengers onboard. Our investigation revealed that the passengers were made up of football team members who were returning after taking part in a league. Upon reaching the spot at River Offin, as a result of speeding, the driver lost control of the steering wheel, veered off the road and entered into the river. Six of the passengers between the ages of 12 and 16 died on the spot. 30 others sustained injuries. They were sent to the St. Patrick hospital for treatment,” he said.
DSP Edmund Nyamekye also added that the bodies of the deceased have also been deposited at the St. Patrick Hospital morgue.
Four of the victims, who are in critical condition, were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital while 26 others who sustained injuries are also on admission at the St. Patrick Hospital at Offinso.
The Ghana Football Association has since released a Press Statement to sympathize with the victims and their families.
Below is the full statement:
The leadership of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), and the National Juvenile Committee (NJC) have learnt of the passing of eight juvenile football players on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at Offinso, near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
The GFA wishes to express our deepest condolences to the family of the eight young footballers who passed away after the car they were traveling on, submerged.
We are informed that the players and their handlers were headed to Afrancho having undergone their District Colts football registration exercise at Offinso.
The GFA and the NJC have dispatched a team to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi to visit the accident victims.
The contingent is made up of Ashanti Regional Association Chairman, Osei Tutu Agyemang, Executive Council Members, Frederic Acheampong, Madam Habiba Attah Forson and NJC member Chairman Kamarat, will visit the injured and console the bereaved families.
The delegation will send a report to the headquarters in Accra for further action.
We are deeply saddened by the development and wish to express our condolences to the family of the deceased and a speedy recovery to the rest of the team who sustained various degrees of injuries during the accident.
In these trying times, we stand shoulder to shoulder with all the bereaved families, those injured and those going through psychological stress.
Our thoughts are with the family of the departed and the victims. May their souls Rest In Peace.
, and the National Juvenile Committee (NJC) have learnt of the passing of eight juvenile football players on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at Offinso, near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region){kind=link}