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Apam drowning: Boys who survived open up about the scary experience [VIDEO]

March 7, 2021, will perhaps be the most memorable and horrid day yet in the lives of two teenage boys at Apam in the Gomoa West constituency of the Central Region.

What started as a regular fun-packed, “Sunday Special” ended up being a black Sunday, for Simon Dadzie, Godfred Apretse and twelve other children who had converged at the Apam beach.

Recounting events of the day in separate exclusive interviews to GhanaWeb, the two boys asserted that they had only gone to the beach to play football with friends from the neighbourhood as well as classmates.

15-year-old Simon, a form two student at the Apam Presbyterian School noted that, on that fateful day, he joined six other friends to the beach to go and play football but resorted to bathing in the sea to cool off once they were done.

He furthered that he was rescued by two people he didn’t know after four others he was with suddenly disappeared in the water. He was brought to the shore after he nearly drowned and sent to the hospital.

“…I was the only one left in the water after a while, my friends (about four of them) who were around me had drowned and I was tired from struggling to keep afloat… suddenly some two guys took hold of me and pulled me out after I began to sink – they took me to the shore and I was rushed to the hospital,” Simon told GhanaWeb.

A visibly shaken Godfred Apretse still haunted by the events from Sunday, said he had no memories from the day.

He had also joined some classmates to play football at the shore and swam afterwards.

According to the 14-year-old class six pupil, he just recalled seeing a large wave hit him. Next thing he knew he was waking up in a hospital.

The township of Apam and neighbouring areas have been thrown into a state of mourning after some of their children numbering over 13, reportedly went missing after they had gone swimming on Sunday, March 7, many of them drowning.

Confirming the incident and detailing the numbers as far as deceased persons and survivors are concerned, the spokesperson of the Apam Fishermen Association, Kow Panyin, told GhanaWeb that 11 of the teenagers who drowned have been identified.

Of the deceased persons, 2 were females and 10 of them males.

Gilbert Assandoh, Isaac Affisah, Adwoa Vi, Joshua Hammond, Prince Peprah, John Arthur, Christopher Ewusi, Ebenezer Forson, Benjamin Narh, Kweku Atta, King Beri Addison, and one other girl (unidentified), who had come to visit her friend were named as the deceased persons.

9 of these teenagers between the ages of 13 and 16 are from the Apam Community, 2 are from Ankamu (Apam Junction) and 1 girl from Cape Coast.

Investigations are still ongoing, but the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, meanwhile has extended financial support to the families of these victims, following the incident.

Watch them narrate their ordeal below:

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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