Boat accident — five more bodies retrieved

Samuel K. Obour Aug - 29 - 2013 , 02:39

Heaps of the tubers of yams that some of the deceased persons had helped to harvest. The bodies of five persons who got missing after a boat disaster on the Oti River last Sunday, have been recovered at Dambai in the Krachi East District. Three bodies were initially retrieved after the accident.

The deceased were members of a family of 19 whose boat capsised while they were on their way from a farm after harvesting tubers of yam.

The boat is said to have hit a tree stump, forcing water into it, and in their attempt to escape the imminent danger, eight members of the family drowned.

They have been identified as Silla Bobin, an eight-month-old baby; Brigitte Munto, six; Phillis Munto, eight; Forgive Akua Tuffour, eight; Bertha Munto,12; Akua Kwankumah, 17; Ms Phidalia Anane, 18, and Madam Adjoa Akura, 27.

Their bodies have been deposited at the Worawora Government Hospital, pending autopsy.

According to the Krachi East Police Commander, Superintendent Jordan Quaye, the boat was carrying 19 people, all members of a family who had gone to assist a couple to harvest their yams.

He said barely eight minutes away from the shore at Dambai, the boat hit a tree stump, causing water to fill the boat, which was also carrying the harvested tubers of yam.

Supt Quaye said 11 people, including Ayuba, the boat operator, and Yaw Ama Sentsor, the owner who was also on board, survived the accident, adding that the boat, yams and the outboard motor had been retrieved from the river.