A 6-year-old primary one pupil, Emmanuel Atingane Amaalba, has drowned in a heartbreaking incident that has left the Kurugu community in the Upper East region in a state of mourning.
The Zorkor river where little Atingane drowned, according to residents has been a perennial source of sorrow due to the lives that have been lost to it.
The incident occurred after Emmanuel joined his elder brother and other children for a fishing expedition at the river.
Daniel Amaalba, the grieving father of the late Emmanuel, shared his sorrow, saying that the boy followed his elder brother to the riverside but was asked to sit and observe due his young age while the senior brothers fished.
Unknown to them, the 6-year-old slipped into the water, which led to the tragic drowning.
Emmanuel’s family and the community have been devastated by the loss, particularly because it is no longer the rainy season, and the river typically remains relatively dry.
However, as explained by Adamu Asaah, the assembly member of the Kurugu Electoral Area, there is a collection of water at one point in the river, which is essential for irrigation purposes during the dry season.
This water source has inadvertently become a magnet for children’s fishing expeditions, putting their lives at risk.
In a heart-wrenching revelation, Mr. Asaah highlighted the broader issue that Kurugu has been grappling with for years – the recurring tragedies caused by drowning in the Zorko River.
He noted that the community members have, over the years, witnessed numerous lives lost, often during the rainy season when the river’s current is stronger, and many people are forced to cross it for business and to visit their relatives.
“The effect of drowning on the community has been terrible,” he said, “as breadwinners and active, promising youth have been taken away, leaving their families in a miserable state.”
He made a fervent appeal for the provision of a boat and lifeguards to facilitate safe river crossings during the rainy season.
Additionally, he called for the implementation of an education programme aimed at preventing drownings in the communities along the river.
The tragedy that befell young Atingane has underscored the urgent need for action to prevent further loss of lives at Kurugu and other communities in Ghana affected by this perilous issue.
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