A 21-year-old man has drowned following a canoe accident on the Volta Lake at Isaka Kura, a community near Yeji in the Pru East District of the Bono East Region.
The incident occurred at about 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 6, 2026, along the Isaka Kura-Tonka-Yeji route.
According to reports, the canoe was carrying six people, including the operator, as well as a tricycle and a cow. The journey was reportedly progressing normally until the cow suddenly began struggling inside the canoe.
The unexpected movement of the animal reportedly caused panic among some of the passengers. Two passengers became frightened and jumped into the lake in an attempt to escape the situation.
One of those who entered the water was identified as 21-year-old Mathias Kpodovia.
The canoe operator, identified as Promise, reportedly alerted residents in the area after Mathias went missing. Community members subsequently formed a search team to look for him.
After several hours of searching, the team reportedly located and retrieved Mathias Kpodovia’s body from the lake.
The body was later conveyed to Matthias Hospital by the police as investigations into the incident continued.
The accident has once again drawn attention to the risks associated with canoe transportation on the Volta Lake, where residents and travellers regularly depend on boats to move between communities.
The presence of passengers, livestock and other cargo on the canoe also highlights the need for proper safety measures during lake transportation, particularly to prevent sudden incidents from putting passengers at risk.
Authorities are expected to continue investigations into the circumstances surrounding the drowning and the canoe accident.
The incident has left residents and the victim’s family mourning the death of the young man.
Source: Thepressradio.com
