WHEN AN ID CARD BECOMES A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH: A PERSONAL REFLECTION ON THE UCC TRAGEDY AND THE URGENT NEED FOR SMARTER UNIVERSITY SYSTEMS
By : Honeybrowne Okaakyire
INTRODUCTION: A NEWS THAT FELT PERSONAL
When I came across the tragic news about a student losing his life while trying to retrieve his student identification card for an examination, I did not read it as just another news story.
It struck me deeply.
The incident involved a student of the University of Cape Coast who reportedly rushed on a motorcycle to retrieve his ID card before an examination. Sadly, that decision ended in a fatal accident on campus.
As I read the details, I could not help but reflect on a similar moment in my own life.
In 2017, my wife who was then a final-year student at the University of Cape Coast, faced almost the same situation. On a rainy Friday morning, she suddenly realized she had forgotten her student ID card before an examination.
The panic that followed is something I will never forget.
That moment forced me to think deeply about how university rules, although designed for order and discipline, can sometimes place students under dangerous pressure.
This article is not just about a tragedy.
It is a reflection.
It is a personal story.
And more importantly, it is a call for universities in Ghana to rethink certain examination policies in order to protect the lives of students.
THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST: A LEGACY OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Before addressing the tragedy and its implications, it is important to appreciate the institution at the center of this discussion.
The University of Cape Coast is one of Ghana’s most respected public universities. It was established in 1962 during a time when Ghana was facing a severe shortage of trained graduate teachers.
After Ghana gained independence in 1957, the country invested heavily in education as a key pillar for national development. The government therefore established the university to train graduate teachers who would serve in secondary schools and teacher training colleges across the country.
Originally known as University College of Cape Coast, the institution operated under the academic supervision of the University of Ghana.
During that period, degrees earned by students were awarded by the University of Ghana until the institution gained autonomy.
In 1971, the institution became a fully autonomous university with the authority to award its own degrees.
Over the decades, the university expanded beyond teacher education and introduced programmes in several other disciplines including:
Business and Economics
Medicine and Health Sciences
Law
Social Sciences
Agriculture
Tourism and Hospitality
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Today, the university serves tens of thousands of students through regular, distance, and postgraduate programmes.
Internationally, the university has also gained recognition for its academic strength and research contributions.
The campus itself is beautifully located along the Atlantic coastline, creating one of the most scenic academic environments in Africa.
However, behind the beauty of the campus lies the reality of intense academic pressure faced by students every semester.
THE TRAGIC INCIDENT THAT SPARKED NATIONAL CONVERSATION
On Thursday, March 5, 2026, tragedy struck within the campus of the University of Cape Coast.
According to a media release from the university’s Directorate of Public Affairs, a Level 200 Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) student named Kweku Mensah was involved in a fatal road accident.
Preliminary reports indicated that the student had forgotten his student ID card, which was required for identification before entering the examination hall.
In an attempt to retrieve the card, he reportedly rode on a motorcycle heading toward Oguaa Hall, where the card was believed to be.
Unfortunately, along the stretch between the Amissah-Arthur Language Centre and the Sandwich Lecture Theatre, the motorcycle collided with a bus.
The injuries were severe.
He was rushed to the university hospital, but despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead.
When I read this story, one question kept echoing in my mind:
SHOULD AN EXAMINATION RULE EVER PUSH A STUDENT INTO SUCH DESPERATION?
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN 2017
The reason this story affected me so deeply is because I have personally experienced a similar moment of panic.
In 2017, my wife was in her final year at the University of Cape Coast.
At that time, she was also pregnant.
Balancing pregnancy with academic life is never easy. There are physical discomforts, emotional stress, and academic demands all happening simultaneously.
One particular Friday morning, the sky over Cape Coast was cloudy and the rain began to fall steadily.
My wife had an important examination that morning.
She prepared herself and was about to leave for the examination hall when suddenly she realized something troubling.
She had forgotten her student ID card.
Anyone who has studied in a Ghanaian university understands the seriousness of such a situation.
Without the ID card, a student may be denied entry into the examination hall.
I could hear the panic in her voice.
She was pregnant.
It was raining.
And the examination time was approaching quickly.
I knew I had to act immediately.
Without wasting time, I picked up the ID card and rushed toward the examination hall. (LLT, the largest lecture theater in University of Cape Coast)
That morning felt like a race against time.
Every minute mattered.
As I hurried through the rain, I kept asking myself one question:
"What if I arrive late?"
Fortunately, I arrived just before the examination started.
When I handed the ID card to her, the relief on her face was unforgettable.
She was able to write her examination.
But that experience left a lasting impression on me.
It made me realize how dangerous academic pressure can become when combined with rigid administrative systems.
THE HIDDEN PRESSURE OF UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS
University examinations are among the most stressful experiences in a student’s academic journey.
Studies in higher education psychology suggest that more than 70% of university students experience significant stress during examination periods.
Several factors contribute to this pressure:
Fear of failing a course
Financial sacrifices made to attend university
The fear of repeating courses
Strict examination regulations
According to the World Health Organization, academic pressure is a major contributor to student anxiety and impulsive decision-making.
Students under extreme stress may make risky decisions simply because they fear missing an examination.
These decisions may include:
Speeding to campus
Using unsafe transportation
Ignoring safety precautions
This is why universities must create examination systems that reduce pressure rather than increase it.
ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE
Road safety is another important aspect of this tragedy.
According to the World Health Organization, road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29 worldwide.
Globally:
Over 1.19 million people die annually in road accidents.
Millions more suffer life-altering injuries.
In Ghana, statistics from the National Road Safety Authority indicate that thousands of road crashes occur every year, with young people making up a significant portion of victims.
When academic urgency combines with unsafe transportation decisions, the risk becomes even higher.
WHY PHYSICAL STUDENT ID CARDS ARE BECOMING OUTDATED
Student ID cards have traditionally been used for:
Examination identification
Library access
Campus security
Hostel verification
However, in today’s digital world, relying solely on a physical plastic card is increasingly outdated.
Students can forget cards.
Cards can be lost.
Cards can even be stolen.
Yet access to digital technology provides universities with many smarter alternatives.
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS UNIVERSITIES CAN ADOPT
After reflecting on both the tragedy and my own experience, I believe universities can implement safer systems.
DIGITAL STUDENT IDENTIFICATION
Universities can introduce digital student ID cards accessible through mobile apps.
Students could simply display the digital ID on their phone during examinations.
BIOMETRIC VERIFICATION
Biometric technology such as fingerprint or facial recognition can verify student identities instantly.
Many institutions around the world already use biometric systems for attendance and exams.
EXAMINATION REGISTERS WITH PHOTOGRAPHS
Invigilators can use official registers that include student photographs.
This allows identification even if a student forgets their ID card.
TEMPORARY IDENTITY VERIFICATION FORMS
Universities could allow students who forget their ID cards to complete a temporary verification form before writing the exam.
The information can then be verified later through student records.
QR CODE DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION
Student ID cards can also include QR codes connected to university databases.
Even if a student forgets the physical card, the QR code could be accessed through a mobile device.
A LIFE LOST SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED
The death of a student is not just a statistic.
It is the loss of a dream.
It is the loss of a child, a sibling, a friend, and a future professional.
As I reflect on this tragedy, I cannot help but remember that rainy morning in 2017 when I rushed an ID card to my pregnant wife before her examination.
Our story ended with relief.
But another family’s story ended with grief.
FINAL THOUGHTS: PUTTING HUMAN LIFE ABOVE ADMINISTRATIVE RULES
Universities exist to nurture the future of society.
Their systems must therefore protect the lives of the students they serve.
The tragic loss connected to the University of Cape Coast should serve as an important lesson for universities across Ghana.
Administrative systems must evolve.
Technology must be embraced.
And policies must prioritize human life above rigid procedures.
Because at the end of the day, no examination rule, no identification card, and no administrative policy should ever cost a student their life.
By : Honeybrowne Okaakyire
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