The Beposo community in the Shama district of the Western Region was on Monday, May 11, 2020, thrown into a state of disbelief and shock following the drowning of two ten year old boys in the Pra river.
The Assemblyman for the area, Isaac Boakye Adane who spoke to Ewurama Smith disclosed that galamsey activities on the Pra river have muddied the waters, a situation he said hampered rescue efforts.
He narrates that it is a favorite pastime for children in the Beposo and adjourning communities to swim and have fun in the Pra river. So on Monday, around 2pm, the first child, name withheld went to swim after which he started fishing at the banks. The second child joined, removed his clothes and jumped into the river. Unfortunately, he landed on a slippery stone and the river which was on high tide started carrying him away. In an attempt to rescue his friend, the other child was also swept away.
Rescue efforts on Monday were unsuccessful until the next day, on Tuesday May 12 when the first child was found about 50 meters from the scene of the incident, near Atwerebonda, another community in the Shama district.
The second child was later found around 11 am in the Whin river, a tributary of the Pra river at Supomu Dunkwaw, also in the Shama district. The bodies have been deposited at mortuary at Yabiw awaiting police documentation before burial.
The assemblyman who was saddened at the situation says the community has now decided that children can only swim in the Pra river when adults are present.
“Now no child will be allowed to play or swim in the pra when no adult is around
“It’s a community decision so I am confident it will not be flouted”.
He added, “I have also advised the parents to monitor the movement of their children during this period when schools are not in session so we don’t have a repeat of this sad event.”
By Shirley Ewurama Smith | Connect FM | 3news.com