Deceased not denied exeat — APSU
The St Augustine’s Past Students Union (APSU) has denied an online story that a student of the school, who was ill, died after he had been denied an exeat to seek medical attention outside the school.
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A statement signed by its National Secretary, Mr Eric Atta-Sonno, and issued by the union in Accra on Sunday, said the story published on ClassFMonline.com with the headline: “St Augustine’s College: Sick student dies after exeat denial”, was not only inaccurate but also damaging and potentially libellous.
“At no point in the run-up to the student’s passing did the issue of exeat request or denial come up. This assertion is totally false!,” the statement said.
Facts
In view of the sensational headline given to the story by the website, the statement said, the publication had gained traction on some Internet and social media platforms, a situation which had, not surprisingly, generated heated discussions that had caused disaffection and resentment for the headmaster and his hardworking team.
To set the record straight, the union said around 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 2, 2016, just after the school’s regular Saturday night entertainment session, Ali Foat, a first-year student who was a known sickler, had a crisis.
It said his housemaster, who lived nearby, was immediately notified and he took the boy to the University of Cape Coast (UCC) Hospital.
Admission
It stated that after examination, Ali was admitted and all his initial bills paid by the housemaster.
“Ali’s parents and auntie were subsequently informed of this development.
“After early morning mass the next day (Sunday), a delegation from the college, made up of the headmaster, the housemaster and others, followed up to the hospital where they were joined by Ali’s family.
“Ali was by then responding to treatment and in a stable condition.
“He was visited again on Monday, July 4 and appeared to be doing fine. Sadly, however, in the morning of Tuesday, July 5, he passed on while still on admission,” it added.
Death
The past students said at the request of Ali’s parents, who are Muslims, the college arranged for his body to be conveyed to Accra for burial in line with Islamic tradition.
“Prior to this, his body was taken through the school, thereby offering his mates, the teachers and the workers the opportunity to pay their last respects.
“May Allah rest his soul in peace,” the statement said.
‘’Ali’s family, fully satisfied with the support offered by the school, had since commended the management of the school and expressed their gratitude to the staff,’’ it added.
It advised the public and the media to contact the college, as well as the past students union, for any information concerning the school.
“Having provided the above set of facts, we trust that ClassFMonline.com will do the decent thing by withdrawing the false story and publishing the facts as presented herein,’’ it added.
The union assured “all parents, guardians, APSUnians, well-wishers and the public that the management of the college will at all times act in the best interest of the students”.