Two Bodies retrieved from Offin River, 3 still missing

Two bodies have been recovered from the Offin River at New Achiase in the Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti Region, after a canoe they were using to cross the river capsized last Friday.

The two dead bodies that have been identified as Holy and Isaac Kattey (Atom), aged 23 and 25 respectively, have been buried owing to their state of decomposition.

A police situational report on the incident stated that “the lifeless bodies of two of the victims of the drowning incident, namely Isaac Kattey, aged 25, and ‘Holy’, aged 23, were retrieved from the Offin River at New Achiase.”

Meanwhile, three persons, who also were drowned during the incident, are yet to be found, as a rescue team intensifies their search.

“We are aware five persons were trapped earlier. We have been able to retrieve two, but we are not giving up. The search continues till the last body is found,” the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Atwima Mponua Assembly, Isaac Kofi Marfo, said.

He was speaking in an interview monitored by The Ghana Report with Akoma FM on the morning of Monday, October 11.

According to National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) the accident on the River Offin in the Atwima Mponua occurred due to overloading.

The organisation has explained that the canoe carried nine persons, instead of its capacity of five, leading to the canoe capsizing. While five were drowned, four others managed to swim for safety.

The Atwimoa Mponua District NADMO Disaster Control Officer for Agogoso, Maxwell Adu, said, “they were too many on the boat, so the canoe collected the water, and then it capsized.”

The NADMO official added that “floods have also contributed to capsize because it’s been raining for the past two weeks in our area.”

Residents in the area have indicated that the river in recent days has overflown its banks, following a perennial downpour.

They have, therefore, called for improved canoes and life jackets to ensure safe passage on the river to avoid such incidents recurring.

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