A 19-year-old second-year Senior High School (SHS) student drowned while swimming in the Amponsah Dam at Bibiani Zongo in the Western North Region after a fun-filled afternoon took a devastating turn.
Elisha Akanlawen had gone to the dam with friends when the tragedy struck.
According to eyewitnesses, he was inexperienced in swimming but attempted to follow his mates into the deep waters.
Unfortunately, he was quickly overwhelmed, and all rescue efforts failed.
Confirming the incident, Assembly Member for the Zongo Electoral Area, Mohammed Abdallah, recounted the heartbreaking moment he arrived at the location.
The police and community leaders were called in to conduct the necessary traditional rituals before retrieving the body.
Elisha’s remains were later transported to the Bibiani Government Hospital mortuary for preservation and further investigations.
Mr. Abdallah expressed deep concern over the recurring tragedies at the Amponsah Dam, stating that this is not the first drowning incident in the area.
He called for immediate intervention, including fencing the dam, but lamented that previous appeals to authorities have gone unanswered.
He urged local leaders and relevant agencies to take urgent action to prevent further similar incidents.