A devastating boating accident on the Black Volta River near Dikpe in Ghana’s Upper West Region has claimed the lives of seven students from Lawra Senior High School. The incident occurred on Saturday, June 14, when a canoe carrying ten members of the school’s cadet corps capsized midstream.
The students, who were on a routine morning jogging exercise, had extended their usual route to the Dikpe Bridge area and attempted to cross the river in a canoe believed to be overloaded and unstable. The vessel overturned, throwing all ten students into the water.
Rescue teams and local volunteers rushed to the scene, managing to retrieve the bodies of four students, two males and two females by midday. Tragically, three others, all female, remain missing. The remaining three students survived the ordeal and are currently receiving medical care and psychological support.
Eyewitnesses described the accident as a harrowing scene, with onlookers helplessly watching as the canoe tipped over. The reason behind the students’ decision to cross the river remains unclear, as early morning jogging is a routine activity for the cadet team but does not typically involve venturing into the river.
Officials from the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Lawra Municipal Assembly, and the Municipal Security Council have visited the site and are coordinating ongoing search and recovery efforts.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the Lawra community and beyond, sparking calls for stricter safety measures around river activities and student excursions.
