Tragedy on the Black Volta: Seven Lawra SHS Students Drown in Canoe Disaster

The Ministry of Education has confirmed the heartbreaking deaths of seven students from Lawra Senior High School who tragically drowned in the Black Volta River during a cadet corps morning exercise on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

In an official statement issued by Deputy Minister of Education and Member of Parliament, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, the Ministry, said the students were attempting to cross the river near Dikpe, close to the Ghana-Burkina Faso border, when the canoe carrying 10 students capsized midstream.

“We share in the grief of the affected families and the entire school community,” the statement read. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this extremely difficult time.”

● A Devastating Loss

The incident claimed the lives of five girls and two boys, all members of the school’s cadet corps. Three students survived the accident and are receiving medical and psychological support.

Rescue efforts were led by a combined team from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, and the Ghana Education Service (GES), who have since retrieved all seven bodies from the river.

The Education Ministry described the event as an “unexpected and heartbreaking turn of events”, especially as it occurred during a routine morning jogging session.

● Urgent Investigation Launched

Minister for Education Hon. Haruna Iddrisu has instructed the Director General of the GES to convene an emergency meeting with the Regional and District Directors of Education, along with the headmaster of Lawra SHS, to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

A comprehensive report has been requested as a matter of urgency, and the Ministry says it will await findings from the Ghana Police Service to determine the next steps.

● Ministry Pledges Safety Reforms

As public concern mounts, the Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to student safety, promising to strengthen protocols and oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“We will continue to do our best to ensure the safety and security of our students,” Dr. Apaak stated.

This tragic incident has cast a shadow over the school community and the nation at large, raising questions about safety procedures for school activities near hazardous environments. The government and education stakeholders are expected to closely monitor developments as the investigation unfolds.