A devastating tragedy in Ghana’s Upper West Region has prompted calls for urgent safety reforms along the Black Volta River. On Saturday, June 14, 2025, seven students from Lawra Senior High School (Lawra SHS) lost their lives while attempting to cross the river at Dikpe, near the Burkina Faso border.
During a solemn address in Parliament, Member of Parliament for Lawra Constituency, Hon. Bede A. Ziedeng, recounted the heartbreaking incident. The students—members of the school’s cadet corps—had embarked on a morning jog along the riverbank. Of the 16 students (11 girls and 5 boys), ten decided to board a locally managed canoe to cross the river. Tragically, the canoe capsized.
Also Read: 🔥 Video: Massive Fire Guts Wooden Structures in Tema Heavy Industrial Area
In a heroic act, their cadet commander dove into the river and managed to rescue three students. Sadly, seven others perished—a loss that has shaken the school, the community, and the entire region.
“This is a painful reminder of how fragile life is and how preventable some tragedies can be,” Hon. Ziedeng told Parliament.
The MP disclosed that the deceased students hailed from various districts across the Upper West Region, including Lawra, Daffiama-Bussie-Issa, Nandom, Wa, and Nadowli-Kaleo. The three rescued students are currently recovering and receiving medical attention.
Ziedeng emphasized that the incident could have been avoided if the students had access to life jackets, which are critical for safe river transport. The canoe they boarded had none—a situation that mirrors safety gaps in many communities along the Black Volta.
“We cannot allow this to happen again. NADMO must act now,” he urged, referencing the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
He further called on government authorities, civil society, and the private sector to provide life-saving equipment to all riverine communities, and to invest in public safety education.
Ziedeng concluded with a passionate appeal:
“Let this not be another news cycle that fades. Let us remember these young souls with more than just words. Let their deaths awaken us to our responsibilities.”
