Seven students drowned while crossing the Black Volta in Lawra but new safety measures are now in place to help prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has assured Parliament that immediate steps are being taken to protect residents and students who use the river along the Lawra-Dikpe Road in the Upper West Region.
Appearing before Parliament, the minister explained that the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) is working closely with local authorities and the Ghana Maritime Authority to tackle safety gaps.
Key actions include regular education for canoe owners, operators, and residents living along the Black Volta Basin. Students and local groups will also receive training on basic maritime safety. Life jackets will be supplied to canoe operators and their use strictly enforced through regular checks.
The Ghana Maritime Authority will also monitor the maintenance of canoes to ensure they remain safe for travel. In addition, students at Lawra Senior High School, especially the three survivors of the tragic incident, will receive psychosocial support.
The measures come in response to the heartbreaking incident on June 14, when seven students from Lawra Senior High School drowned after their canoe capsized midstream.
The school’s headmaster, Mr. Primus Bero, reported that 16 students from the school’s cadet corps went jogging that morning. Ten of them attempted to cross the river in a canoe they found nearby, but it overturned. Only three survived.
The local police, led by the District Commander, joined forces with the Dikpe community to retrieve the bodies. The victims were later laid to rest by their families.
The Minister reiterated that these preventive measures are being prioritised to protect lives and ensure the safety of everyone who depends on the river for transport.
