The Assembly member for the Kurugu Electoral Area in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region has expressed grave concern about the numerous lives lost in the Zorko River, the most recent being that of 6-year-old primary one student, Emmanuel Atingane Amaalba.
Emmanuel, a 6-year-old, lost his life when he accompanied his brothers on a fishing expedition on the river. When Mr. Asaah spoke to Mark Smith on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show, he mentioned that drowning in the Zorko River has unfortunately become a regular occurrence.
“These three communities have been plagued by the issue of drowning. The river stretches from Sumbrungu to Zorko and the rest of the communities. During the dry season, the river poses no problem, but during the rainy season, it becomes treacherous. It has been a persistent challenge over the years. I don’t think there has been a single year when we did not witness people drowning in this river,” Mr. Asaah lamented.
He continued, emphasizing that while the residents in the area are deeply concerned about their health and safety, they might approach the river thinking it’s safe to cross. The water level may not necessarily be high on the riverbanks; it could be around the waist or knee level, creating a deceptive impression that it’s possible to cross. However, this misconception can lead to tragic surprises.
Mr. Asaah, the Assemblyman for the Kurugu Electoral Area, explained that there have been no canoes or life jackets to assist residents in safely crossing the river. Despite the situation being brought to the attention of the Kassena-Nankana District Assembly, Mr. Asaah explained that the Assembly’s constant response has been the lack of funds.
To illustrate the dire situation, Mr. Asaah mentioned that even a bridge construction project initiated to help residents cross the river around the Atuyuruum community has been abandoned for more than three years. He earnestly appealed for urgent intervention to prevent further loss of lives in the coming years.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|William Jalulah & Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
