Heavy downpour at Prestea Huni Valley and adjoining districts of the Western Region has resulted in the drowning of four out of seven passengers crossing River Fulesu to church via canoe on Saturday.
Isaac Nketiah, the operator of the canoe told the Police that he set off from the river bank with seven Jehovah�s Witness church members from Kutukrom in the Prestea Huni Valley District to Sikaneasem near Evalue-Gwira community in the Nzema East Municipality.
He said while crossing the river with the passengers, the high currents overpowered the canoe, causing it to change course and ram into a tree stump in the middle of the river.
The 37-year-old said all passengers were thrown overboard as a result of the collision.
Nektiah told the police that he managed to rescue three out of the seven passengers.
According to the Prestea Huni Valley District Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Emmanuel Nwinsori, Nketia reported the incident to the police, which quickly organised a search party, but could not rescue the victims.
He said the victims included a woman who had fastened a child to her back and two other children.
The canoe, according to the crime officer, was a normal small wooden canoe for ferrying people.
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