- SHS 2 student drowns in Amponsah Dam at Bibiani Zongo
- Victim, Elisha Akanlawen, 19, was inexperienced in swimming
- Community leader calls for dam fencing to prevent future tragedies
A day of fun turned into heartbreak at Bibiani Zongo in the Western North Region when a Senior High School (SHS) 2 student, 19-year-old Elisha Akanlawen, drowned in the Amponsah Dam while swimming with friends.
The incident occurred when Elisha, who was not experienced in swimming, joined his peers in the deep waters but was quickly overpowered by the current. Eyewitnesses stated that despite his friends’ efforts to rescue him, Elisha was unable to keep afloat.
The Assembly Member for the Zongo Electoral Area, Mohammed Abdallah, shared his distressing experience of arriving at the scene. “It was a heartbreaking sight when I reached the location. We tried everything, but we couldn’t save him,” Abdallah said.
Authorities, including the police and local community leaders, were contacted to perform the necessary traditional rituals for retrieving the body. Following the recovery, Elisha’s body was transported to the Bibiani Government Hospital mortuary for preservation and further investigation.
Abdallah revealed that this tragic drowning is not the first to occur at the Amponsah Dam. He urged for urgent action to prevent further loss of life, highlighting the need for a fence around the dam. “We have repeatedly raised this issue with the authorities, but no action has been taken. This is a recurring tragedy that needs to be addressed,” he said.
The community is calling for help and immediate intervention to secure the area and prevent future accidents.
