18-Year-Old Notre Dame SHS Student Dies After Writing Final WASSCE Paper

An 18-year-old student from Notre Dame Girls Senior High School in the Bono Region has died shortly after completing her final West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) paper, turning what should have been a celebratory moment into a tragedy for her family and school community.

Jacinta Phiapre Kubi Appiah, a resident of Seikwa in the Tain District, wrote her final Biology paper on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. After completing the exam, she reportedly collapsed while celebrating with fellow students and was rushed to the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Hospital at Fiapre, near Sunyani, where she was pronounced dead.

According to reports from fellow students, Appiah had complained of chest pains in the days leading up to the exam and had repeatedly requested permission to seek medical attention. However, the Bono Regional Director of Education, Gabriel Antwi, stated that she had been granted permission to visit the hospital a day before her final paper after expressing health concerns. Medical officials at the facility had advised her to remain admitted, but she insisted on returning to school to complete her examination.

Director Antwi explained that Appiah returned to school, wrote her Biology paper, and later collapsed while celebrating with peers after the final paper. She was transported back to the SDA Hospital but did not survive.

The incident has sparked discussions about the duty of care that educational institutions owe to students who fall ill during examination periods. While school authorities maintain that appropriate permissions were granted for medical treatment, the tragedy highlights the need for clear protocols and effective communication between school health services, students, and families during critical academic periods.

Appiah was laid to rest in her hometown of Seikwa on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, one week after her passing. Her classmates remember her not only as a fellow student but as a friend whose loss has deeply affected the Notre Dame Girls SHS community as they conclude their WASSCE examinations.

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