The Ministry of Education has expressed profound sorrow following the tragic death of seven students from Lawra Senior High School who drowned after a canoe they boarded capsized in the Black Volta River near Dikpe.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the Upper West Region and across the country, with the Ministry pledging swift action and full investigations into the circumstances surrounding the disaster.
According to the Ministry, ten students, all members of the school’s cadet corps, were involved in the fatal expedition. The students were reportedly on a routine morning jogging exercise when they attempted to cross the river into neighbouring Burkina Faso.
The canoe they boarded overturned mid-river, plunging all ten into the water. Only three students were rescued alive, leaving seven – five girls and two boys – dead.
In an official statement issued by the Ministry, the Honourable Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, described the accident as “an unexpected and heart-breaking turn of events” and conveyed condolences on behalf of the government and the education sector.
“On behalf of the Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu and government, I convey our deep shock and sadness to the families of the seven students of Lawra Senior High School who lost their lives in a tragic boat incident”
Ministry Of Education
The Ministry confirmed that the bodies of the deceased had been retrieved by a combined team from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, and the Ghana Education Service. The rescue and recovery operation was supported by local residents and district authorities.
Further information received from the Upper West Regional Minister and the Member of Parliament for Lawra confirmed the successful rescue of three of the students. The Ministry acknowledged their cooperation and assistance in managing the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
“We have confirmation through the Upper West Regional Minister and the Member of Parliament for Lawra that three of the ten students were rescued while seven drowned”
Ministry Of Education
The Minister of Education has directed the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service to immediately summon a high-level emergency meeting involving the Regional and District Directors of Education and the Headmaster of Lawra SHS.
The purpose of the meeting is to examine the events leading to the tragedy, assess any lapses in student supervision, and provide an urgent report to the Ministry.
The statement further conveyed the Ministry’s solidarity with the grieving families and the Lawra SHS community during what it described as an “extremely difficult time.” It pledged support and continued efforts to safeguard students under the national education system.
“We share in the grief of the affected families and the entire school community. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this extremely difficult time,” the statement read.
The Ministry of Education also announced that it was awaiting a full report from the Ghana Police Service to determine the exact cause of the incident and to guide future preventive measures. It assured the public that the safety of students remains a top priority for the government.
“As the Ministry awaits a full report from the Ghana Police Service, we wish to assure Ghanaians that we will continue to do our best to ensure the safety and security of our students”
Ministry Of Education
As the nation mourns the tragic loss of the seven young lives, the Ministry’s firm response and immediate actions underscore its commitment to student welfare and institutional accountability in Ghana’s education sector.
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