A tragic incident occurred on Monday, October 5, 2026, in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of the Ashanti Region, where an 11-year-old boy lost his life after drowning in River Owabi at Akropong. According to reports, the boy was among seven children who went to swim in the river that afternoon. Three of them got into serious difficulty in the water, prompting nearby residents to rush to the scene.
The swift response of the residents saved two of the boys, who were pulled out alive, but the third boy could not be reached in time and disappeared beneath the surface. Traditional authorities and security personnel were alerted on Monday and immediately headed to the river, but their efforts to locate the missing boy that evening proved fruitless. The search operation continued into the next day.
On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the search team, comprising traditional authorities and security officials, returned to the river and performed traditional rituals at the riverbank before resuming the search. This approach proved decisive, as they were able to locate the boy's body later that day. The police subsequently released the body to his family for burial.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the Akropong community, reigniting concerns about children accessing the river without adult supervision. Residents have expressed alarm, pointing out that this is not an isolated incident; around the same period last year, children drowned in the Owabi River in another nearby community.
The repeated loss of young lives in the same waterway has intensified calls for greater vigilance and measures to keep children away from the river, especially during unsupervised outings. Andrews Kofi Nti, the Assembly Member for the area, described the incident as a tragedy and emphasized the need for caution.
The drowning incident in River Owabi has raised questions about the safety of children in the area and the need for effective measures to prevent such tragedies. The community is still reeling from the shock of the incident, and the incident is expected to be a major topic of discussion in the coming days.
This incident is not an isolated case of a near-drowning incident in Ghana's rivers. Recently, six Ghanaians narrowly escaped death after a boat accident occurred on River Samre in the Western Region of Ghana. The incident highlights the need for caution and vigilance when it comes to water activities, especially for children.
Key points
- An 11-year-old boy drowned in River Owabi at Akropong in the Ashanti Region on October 5, 2026.
- The boy was among seven children who went swimming in the river, and three got into difficulty.
- The incident has reignited concerns about children accessing the river without adult supervision.
