A 12-year-old boy has died, and four other children have been hospitalised after a canoe carrying them capsized on the Ochi River near Assin Ochiso in Ghana’s Central Region.
The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday as the group attempted to cross the river en route to Amoanda in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam District in search of pears. The only available route was via a canoe, a daily risk residents say has become all too familiar.
The deceased, identified as Kojo Adu, also known as Joe, was found submerged in the river and pronounced dead upon arrival at a nearby clinic. Four other children, aged between 6 and 12, including three siblings and a friend, survived the ordeal but were treated for shock and other minor injuries at a local health facility.
According to eyewitnesses, the canoe was also carrying the paddler who attempted to save the children when the vessel overturned.
The grieving parents of the deceased, Madam Ama Ninaa and Mr. Kwabena Asaane, spoke to BBC News partner Kasapa FM and expressed their shock and sorrow at the loss of their son.
“It’s heartbreaking to lose a child in such a preventable way,” said Madam Ninaa.
The incident has reignited calls from residents of Assin Ochiso and Amoanda for the construction of a footbridge over the Ochi River. Locals argue that the reliance on unstable canoes has repeatedly endangered lives, particularly those of schoolchildren.
Community leaders are appealing to their Member of Parliament, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, and the government to intervene urgently.
“A footbridge is not a luxury; it’s a necessity,” one resident stated. “We are tired of mourning preventable deaths.”
This latest tragedy adds to growing concerns about transportation safety in rural parts of Ghana, where infrastructure remains limited.
Source: Yaw Boagyan