A sombre cloud hangs over Ada Senior High School (SHS) after a tragic incident saw one final-year student drown and 20 of their colleagues dismissed for sneaking off campus to swim in a nearby river. The disciplinary action, detailed in a viral video circulating on social media on Saturday, June 21, 2025, underscores the severe consequences of students defying school regulations.
The heartbreaking incident occurred when a group of final-year students reportedly left the school premises without authorization to swim in a nearby river. This act of defiance tragically resulted in the death of one of their peers, whose body has since been retrieved as investigations into the matter commence.
In the viral footage, a woman identified as the headmistress of Ada SHS is seen addressing the dismissed students during an assembly. Her stern message outlined the immediate repercussions of their actions: “Your parents will come and wait patiently for you. When you finish, they will take you back till you are done with your WASSCE papers. If your parents do not have time, that one is between you and them. It is your business.” This indicates that while the students are dismissed from residing on campus, they will still be permitted to sit for their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) papers.
This tragic drowning at Ada SHS is particularly distressing as it follows closely on the heels of a similar and even larger-scale tragedy at Lawra Senior High School in the Upper West Region. Just a week prior, on Saturday morning, June 14, 2025, seven students of Lawra SHS tragically drowned in the Dikpe River when their canoe capsized during an early morning jogging routine as they attempted to cross the river.
The repeated incidents of student drownings in Ghanaian senior high schools highlight a critical and urgent need for enhanced safety protocols, stricter adherence to school rules, and possibly, better supervision, especially in schools located near water bodies. The dismissals at Ada SHS, while a harsh measure for final-year students, reflect the school authorities’ determination to enforce discipline and prevent further loss of life. The focus now turns to the ongoing investigations and the wider implications for student safety across the nation’s educational institutions.
Watch the video below:
Authorities at the Ada Senior High School (ADASCO) have dismissed 20 students for sneaking out of campus to swim in a nearby river, an act that tragically resulted in the drowning of one student.
The incident, which has left the school community in shock, occurred despite… pic.twitter.com/pJqkuVO0SH
— ThisIsNeneOdompleh (@The1957News) June 21, 2025
Source: http://thepressradio.com
