The body of a woman identified as Yaa Esther has been retrieved after she reportedly drowned in the Densu River at New Asuoyaa in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The body of the deceased has been sent to the morgue by the police while investigations continue.
The woman, believed to be about 48 years, allegedly drowned while crossing the river last Thursday evening around 6:30p.m.
A little boy who saw the woman drowning rushed to inform the town folks about the incident.
Attempts by the town folks to locate her proved futile, but on Friday, June 2, the local search team retrieved the lifeless body of Esther.
At least one person drowns every year in the community because of the pollution of the Densu River, which the residents believes is a taboo.
However, the Assembly Member for Asuoyaa Electoral Area, Patrick Amoako Ankrah, partly blamed the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) for the loss of lives.
According to him, the water level rises unexpectedly whenever the GWCL opens its dam, which poses danger to many who cross the river.
He pointed out lack of communication between the GWCL and the communities along the Densu River did not help the communities to prepare ahead in terms of safety, hence residents got to the riverside only to see the sudden rise of the river but had no other option than to walk through the river to cross.
The incident brings to the fore broader spectrum of challenges facing the residents of New Asuoyaa who are predominantly peasant farmers in the New Asuoyaa Community.
Until a year ago, residents in the community, including schoolchildren, had to swim in the Densu River to farms and school.
Highlights of the plight of the people by the media led to provision of a locally-made boat to ferry the residents.
The boat, however, does not function well whenever the water level is low; therefore residents wade through the river to the other bank, while carrying their goods.
The road leading to the community is in a deplorable state, which discourages drivers from operating in the area.
Some of the residents told the DAILY HERITAGE that the community lacked basic amenities, including health facility and potable water, and appealed to the government to come to their aid.
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