A private school in Oyarifa, Accra, named Gracefield School Limited has been sued for alleged carelessness.
A five-year-old student was reportedly given Banku (a regional dish) on June 24, 2021, despite the School's knowledge that she was allergic to it.
The plaintiff, who is being represented by Mr. Charles Kofi Kwadam, is asking for GHC150,000 in compensatory damages for the Minor's shock, illness, and inconvenience.
Additionally, the plaintiff is suing the school for punitive damages for endangering the minor's life while knowing about her medical condition (Corn or maize allergies).
The plaintiff is also asking for additional special damages of GHC 1,634.00, which would cover the cost of the Minor's medical care. The Minor began attending the School on May 4, 2021, and the court was informed of this information on April 23, 2021.
The mother of the Minor claimed in a statement of claim that she had told the school about her son's (the Minor's) allergies.
According to the report, the mother listed the Minor's allergies to groundnuts, corn, or maize, on the admittance form.
"Due to this, the defendant School provided the plaintiff with substitute food whenever the Banku was served to other pupils for lunch prior to June 24, 2021.
"On June 24, 2021, at lunchtime, the defendant provided the plaintiff banku, which he was allergic to because it included corn or maize, instead of offering him an alternate dish. By the time lunchtime arrived, the Minor was so ravenous that she only managed to eat around six pieces of the banku before the school's lunchtime attendant switched it out for a bowl of spaghetti.
The Minor reportedly slept out after school, woke up at 7 o'clock the following day, and began vomiting a lot. The statement of claim said, "Plaintiff vomited about seven times between 7 pm and 11 pm." She spent days being admitted after being transported to two separate hospitals, the court heard.
She was said to have experienced severe bodily discomfort, and the vomiting had left her dehydrated and weak. He once more experienced psychological and emotional pain.
According to reports, the school's principal and her instructor were told of her situation and made a commitment that "they will not repeat that error again."
However, the plaintiff claimed that the school had not taken any action to lessen the injury it had done to her or make up for the physical suffering, anguish, or grief.
Some of the claims made by the plaintiff were disputed by the institution in its statement of defence.
The defendant claimed that ever since the plaintiff was admitted to the school, its officials had faithfully adhered to her (the plaintiff's) mother's directions, and at no point in time had the school failed to do so with regard to "her allergies."