Yaw Boagyan
A 28-year-old commercial motorbike rider, identified as Kofi Adisco, has drowned in the River Onwa at Assin Aworoso in the Assin South District after a swimming competition with colleagues turned tragic.
According to eyewitnesses, the deceased and 11 other riders had organised a group meal on Wednesday before heading to the riverside to cool off. What began as a casual swim reportedly escalated into a friendly competition.
During the activity, Adisco dived into the river but failed to resurface, sparking fears that he had drowned. His colleagues made frantic attempts to rescue him but were unsuccessful and later alerted community leaders.
Confirming the incident, the Assembly Member for the area, Hon. Akwasi Korankye, said he had earlier seen the group riding in a convoy towards the river, honking their horns. About three hours later, he received reports that one of them had gone missing in the water.
A search party was organised after traditional leaders performed libation rites, but initial efforts to retrieve the body proved futile. The search resumed the following day with support from the police, leading to the recovery of the body.
Hon. Korankye noted that the body bore a head injury, raising suspicions that the deceased may have struck a rock while diving.
The remains have been deposited at the St. Francis Xavier Hospital morgue in Assin Fosu.
The deceased, a father of one, was unmarried and hailed from Assin Adiembra but worked in Aworoso.
Police have since launched investigations into the incident, while residents have been cautioned against swimming in the river, which has reportedly overflowed its banks due to recent rains, making it dangerous.
Rafiq Adam
channel247 online
