Kudikope (Eastern Region) 5th July 99 --

Four people from Kudikope in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region were drowned on Sunday when a canoe on which they were returning from the Gyemeni market in the Kpando District capsized.

The dead are Agbasi Narki, 35, Mama Kabuki 23, Okahoaoye Abena, 37 and Narteh Siawu aged one and half years.

At the time of the incident, the canoe, with a capacity of four persons and built solely for fishing, was carrying 11 passengers in addition to two maxi bags of potatoes, one bag of salt and unspecified quantities of goods.

According to the Asuogyaman District Chief Executive, Emmanuel Dwamema Bekoe, who together with the Assembly member for Gyakiti, K. Nketia, and the NDC Constituency Chairman Elom Djokoto, went to Kudikope to console the community, the canoe operator, Daniel Bosi said they were confronted by a heavy storm in the Middle of the lake accompanied by a down pour which caused the canoe to capsize.

The operator said, with the support of his assistant, they managed to save five people including a four-month old baby boy whose mother unfortunately got drowned. He said, but for the timely intervention of a larger boat, the remaining seven persons would have got drowned.

Madam Korkor Tei, one of the survivors told the District Chief Executive that she had to snatch the baby form behind the his drowning mother and swim with one hand from a distance of 20 metres to safety. She said one of the boat operators came to their rescue with a local mattress and she held onto it with the baby until the rescue boat came.

Mr. Dwamena Bekoe, on behalf of the District Assembly expressed their condolence to the bereaved family and the entire community. The DCE cautioned against the use of unauthorised canoes and boats for passenger service on the lake.

GRi?/