On Wednesday, 10th May, 2023, some school children numbering eleven (11) who were returning from school at Wiaboman to their various homes at Faanaa which is a small island located near Bortianor and Wiaboman in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality in the Greater Accra. They are mainly fishermen drowned in the Estuary area of the Densu River. They boarded a small boat to transport them home, after few minutes their boat capsized throwing them all into the water body. This incident happened at 5pm after school closing hours.
The children attended school at Redeemer School and Awareness Support Academy (SASA) and they were between the ages of 1.5 to 10 years. Nine (9) of the children, comprising of six (6) females and three (3) males were retrieved drowned with one resurfacing this morning 11th May, 2023 after thorough search at Kele, a community near Wiaboman.
Meanwhile, three (3) of the children including the boat paddler (10years old boy) survived the accident after rescue by residents of Wiaboman. The bodies of the dead children have been deposited at Korle –Bu teaching hospital mortuary.
The surviving ones are traumatized and needs counselling as soon as possible.
RECOMMENDATION
National Disaster Management Organisation Weija-Gbawe recommends;
- Provision of Life Jacket to the residents of Wiaboman and Faanaa for safe crossing of residents especially school children to their various schools.
- Sensitization of Residents of Wiaboman and Faanaa of the dangers associated with crossing the River without Life-Jackets for school children.