Rescue efforts have been initiated at Atwima Mponua District, Ashanti Region, in search of two men who allegedly drowned after their canoe capsized on the Offin River near Achiase. The unfortunate incident occurred on Thursday, September 25. The canoe was carrying six passengers, two of whom are now reported missing.
Speaking to the media, a Unit Committee member, Daniel Adu, noted that the canoe’s paddler lost control as he is believed to be inexperienced. “All six people ended up in the water. Four were rescued, but the search is still ongoing for the other two, both adult men,” he said.
According to him, a similar incident occurred in 2021 on the same stretch of the river. He added that the canoe was carrying four people; while three bodies were retrieved, the fourth individual is still missing.
National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) officials who visited the scene initiated a rescue operation through Friday, September 26. Rituals were also performed at the riverbank by Traditional leaders to assist in recovery efforts.
In June this year, some seven students from Lawra Senior High School (SHS) lost their lives after the boat they were travelling on capsized on the Black Volta River at Dikpe.
The unfortunate incident that claimed the lives of five girls and two boys occurred on Saturday, June 14, during a routine morning jogging exercise
Per reports, the group of 10, part of the school’s cadet corps, was attempting to cross in an overloaded boat. Three other students were rescued and provided medical care as well as psychological support. According to reports, early morning jogging is a regular activity for the cadet team; however, the rationale behind the group’s attempt to cross the river remains unclear.
Reacting to the unfortunate incident, the Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has instructed that a meeting be convened and its findings reported to him.
The Education Ministry has commiserated with the bereaved families as investigations continue.
“We share in the grief of the affected families and the entire school community. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this extremely difficult time.
As the Ministry awaits a full report from the Ghana Police Service, we wish to assure Ghanaians that we will continue to do our best to ensure the safety and security of our students,” a statement signed by the Deputy Education Minister Dr Clement Apaak read.
This is not the first time lives, especially those of students, have been lost to drowning on the Black Volta.
In 2023, some eight students drowned in the Volta Lake in the Sene East District on their way to school.
This prompted calls on the government to provide life jackets to pupils and staff in island communities who commute by water.
Eduwatch Africa called on the Ghana Education Service and other relevant stakeholders to roll out measures to avert such disasters in the future.
“In the immediate term, we urge the Ghana Education Service (GES) to facilitate the availability of life jackets to all school children and staff who sail to and from school, not only in the Sene East district, but all other ‘island and settler communities’ where children and staff commute by water transport to school.
The GES should, in collaboration with the relevant state agencies, facilitate health and safety orientation sessions for all its pupils and staff in island communities”, portions of the group’s statement read.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) donated 100 life jackets and learning materials to the Atigagorme and Wayokope communities in the Sene East District. Then Director-General of GES, Dr Eric Nkansah, said the donation was an interim safety and security measure for school children.
Appearing before Parliament on Wednesday, July 2, Minister responsible for Interior, Honourable Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, revealed a number of measures the government and its agencies will put in place to check the rate of drowning incidents involving students and others in rural areas.
This follows the recent boat incident along the Black Volta Basin that claimed the lives of seven students of Lawra Senior High School (SHS) on June 14.
The sector minister noted that there will be regular sensitisation of canoe owners or operators and residents along the Black Volta Basin, and sensitization of students and identifiable bodies on maritime safety.
He added that the Ghana Maritime Authority will provide life jackets to canoe operators along the river, conduct regular monitoring of canoe operators to ensure safety on the river, and ensure all canoes are regularly maintained.
