Sunyani: An 18-year-old WASSCE candidate from Notre Dame Girls Senior High School in Ghana's Bono Region has tragically died shortly after completing her final examination paper, leaving classmates, teachers, and the wider public in mourning.
According to Ghana Web, the student, identified as Jacinta Phiapre Kubi Appiah, reportedly collapsed soon after finishing her last WASSCE examination on Thursday. She was rushed to the Seventh-day Adventist Hospital at Fiapre, near Sunyani, where medical personnel sadly pronounced her dead.
Reports have circulated that Jacinta had previously been admitted to the same hospital but was allowed to return to campus to sit for her final examination paper. After successfully completing the paper, she collapsed shortly afterwards. The exact medical cause of her death has not yet been officially disclosed, and authorities and her family have yet to release further details regarding the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
The heartbreaking news has sent shockwaves through Notre Dame Girls Senior High School, with classmates, teachers, parents, and many Ghanaians expressing sorrow across social media. Many have described the incident as one of the most heartbreaking moments of this year's WASSCE examinations, noting that what should have marked the beginning of a new chapter in Jacinta's life instead became a day of unimaginable loss.
While several reports have circulated online regarding Jacinta's health before the examination, no official medical statement has confirmed the exact cause of death. Authorities are expected to provide additional information once investigations and medical assessments are completed.
The incident has renewed conversations about student health, medical support during national examinations, and the importance of ensuring that candidates experiencing serious illness receive appropriate care throughout examination periods. It also serves as a painful reminder of how quickly lives can change and has prompted an outpouring of sympathy from across Ghana.