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At least 11 bodies have been retrieved after they reportedly drown at the Apam beach in the Gomoa West District of the Central Region, Sunday, March 7, 2021.
Three other persons have, however, been rescued and resuscitated, according to reports.
The District’s Chief Executive, Bismark Nkum, indicated that the incident occurred.
The persons invloved are teenagers who went to swim despite President Akufo-Addo’s ban on beach activities.
According to him, the bodies have been deposited at the St. Luke’s Catholic Hospital morgue at Apam, pending Police investigations and other formalities even though he suspects there are more to be found in the sea.
He said: “We heard the news of their drowning so we formed search parties to find them. So far, we have found 11 bodies and 3 persons who have survived.”
“The bodies of the 11 have been deposited at the Apam Hospital morgue waiting for Police investigations and autopsy for court processes before they are given to the respective families for burial,” he spoke to Angel News’ Odehye Kwaku Asiedu.
The administrator of the hospital, Reverend Father Oteng Francis, provided some details about the hospital’s encounter with the victims of the incident.
“The 11 bodies that were brought in were made up of nine boys and two girls. Though the bodies hadn’t decomposed, our observation revealed that parts have been lacerated. We however unable to tell what is responsible for those lacerations.”
“Of those that survived, two came in unconscious. Our staff did their best to resuscitate them and to discharge them,” he narrated.
Rev. Fr. Oteng went on to urge all to put measures in place to ensure that the beaches and seas are safe for use.
He said: “We are promoting tourism, so we must all put in measures to ensure that they are safe, and the experts in charge of our water bodies must be able to delimit boundaries and indicate safe zones for recreational purposes.”
“I think it would be wrong if people are banned from going to the beach because of an accident,” he added.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Gomoa West, Richard Gyan Mensah, while acknowledging the inadequacies of the Ghana Police Service has also urged that they enforce the restrictions imposed by Government to prevent future mishaps.
He said: “The beaches here are many. If at least one Police officer is deployed at each beach with a cane, I don’t think people will defy orders and go. Basically, it is because there hasn’t been enforcement of restrictions at the beaches that is why this has happened.”
“That’s not to say the Police are not doing their work. We acknowlegde that the personnel are few and so we take this opportunity plead with the heads to provide more men to help.”
