Rains that started slowly in parts of the Bono Region on Monday evening eventually left five dead at Badu, in the Tain District.
They are Koo Prince, 18, Osei Kwame, 30, and Mensah Hayford, 17. The rest are yet to be identified at the time of filing this report.
The deceased were among other spectators who went to witness a football match organised by Nananom to herald the yam festival, otherwise known as the Fordjour Festival of the people of Badu.
Further information available to the paper says the three died on the spot while the rest who sustained severe injuries later died at the hospital.
Badu West Assemblywoman hopeful, Efa Janet, who spoke to the paper, explained that the five together with other townfolks were watching football at a park near a Roman Catholic School when the rains started slowly at about 4pm, but later accompanied by storms at about 4:30pm.
“Some people ran to take refuge in the classrooms, but while there in the classrooms, the storm lifted (rift) the roofing on the building, and as they tried to escape the roofing fell on them, killing three on the spot.
“The rest sustained injuries and were rushed to Badu Government Hospital, where two later died yesterday,” she said.
The sad incident has, however, marred the festive mood of the community, leaving the whole town in shock and mourning. The injured are currently receiving treatment at Wenchi Methodist Hospital and other hospitals in the district, the paper has gathered.
Due to the incident, the paramount chief of the area, Nana Boakye Yiadom, has cut short the celebration of the festival until further notice to allow the bereaved to mourn the dead.
FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Badu