The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) candidate who died last Wednesday moments after completing the final paper has been identified as 18-year-old Jacinta Phiapre Kubi Appiah from the Notre Dame Girls Senior High School in the Bono Region. She died shortly after writing her final paper on a day that should have been a relief and celebration.

Jacinta Phiapre Kubi Appiah, immediately after the final paper, reportedly fell unconscious and was rushed to the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Hospital at Fiapre, near Sunyani, where she was pronounced dead. She was reportedly on admission at the same hospital earlier, but was allowed to return to campus to write the final paper.

The regional Director, Gabriel Antwi, has countered that narrative by the students and said it was not true she was denied permission for medical care. According to him, medical officers at the facility wanted to keep the candidate on admission, but she insisted on return to school to write her final WASSCE paper.

The regional Director said Appiah returned to school, wrote the Biology paper and later fell unconscious while celebrating with colleagues after the final paper. He said she was rushed back to the hospital but did not survive.

Graphic Online gathered that Jacinta Phiapre Kubi Appiah has since been buried at Seikwa and that she was buried on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, a week after her passing. For her colleagues, the final day of WASSCE will be remembered not only as the end of an examination, but also as the day they lost a friend.

As the investigation into her death unfolds, the family and friends of the late Jacinta Phiapre Kubi Appiah are still coming to terms with the tragic loss of their loved one. The school community is still in shock, and many are questioning why Appiah was allowed to write the final paper despite her ill health.

The headmistress of the school, Sister Irene Brookman-Arthur, has declined to comment on the matter. However, the Bono Regional Director of Education, Gabriel Antwi, has assured the public that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Appiah's death will be conducted.

In a related development, the Ministry of Education has announced that it will conduct an inquiry into the school's handling of students who fall ill while in school. The ministry has also vowed to look into the circumstances surrounding Appiah's death.

The late Jacinta Phiapre Kubi Appiah was a student of Notre Dame Girls Senior High School in the Bono Region. She was a dedicated student who was loved by her peers and teachers alike.

The incident has raised concerns about the health and well-being of students in Ghana's schools. It has also sparked a debate about the need for schools to have adequate healthcare facilities and staffing.

The family of the late Jacinta Phiapre Kubi Appiah has expressed their gratitude to the school for the support they have received during this difficult time. They have also thanked the authorities for the investigation into her death.

As the investigation into her death unfolds, the nation continues to mourn the loss of a young life. May her memory live on, and may her death serve as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing the health and well-being of our children.

"Her death has thrown the school community into mourning and raised questions about the handling of students who fall ill while in school."

  • Gabriel Antwi, Bono Regional Director of Education

This incident is a stark reminder of the need for schools to have adequate healthcare facilities and staffing. It is also a call to action for the Ministry of Education to review its policies on student health and well-being.