A joyful afternoon turned tragic in Bibiani Zongo, located in the Western North Region, when a senior high school student drowned at the Amponsah Dam.
The student, 19-year-old Elisha Akanlawen, was swimming with friends when the accident occurred, leaving the community in shock and mourning.
According to Mohammed Abdallah, the Assembly Member for the Zongo Electoral Area, the scene was heartbreaking when he arrived. He described the events to the media, sharing the distressing moments he witnessed at the dam.
Eyewitnesses noted that Elisha, an inexperienced swimmer, attempted to join his friends in the deep waters but quickly became overwhelmed. Efforts to rescue him were unfortunately unsuccessful.
The police and community leaders were immediately contacted to perform traditional rituals to recover the body. Elisha’s remains were later transported to the Bibiani Government Hospital mortuary for preservation and investigation.
Mr. Abdallah mentioned that this is not the first tragedy the community has faced at the Amponsah Dam. He is calling for urgent action to prevent similar incidents in the future, specifically advocating for the construction of a fence around the dam to enhance safety, especially for youth.
Despite his previous attempts to bring this issue to the attention of the relevant authorities, his concerns have gone unaddressed. Abdallah is now appealing to the public and stakeholders for support in addressing this critical safety concern to prevent further loss of life.
