Tears flowed uncontrollably as the people of Apam in the Central region today, Tuesday, 16 March 2021 buried 11 teenagers who drowned last week while they went to the beach to swim.
In all 13 teenagers drowned but 11 were buried on Tuesday.
Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Mavis Hawa Koomson who represented President Akufo-Addo speaking at the mass burial service advised parents to communicate more with their children, monitor them and know their whereabout always.
She also advised the youth to take a cue from the tragedy and be obedient to their parents.
For her part, the Central regional minister Madam Justina Marigold Assan consoled the families. She expressed sadness that her first official duty was to attend the burial of the teenagers.
She promised that the government will train lifeguards along the coast to help prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.
She beseeched the churches to counsel the two remaining survivors to help them recover from the trauma.
Ms Assan further called on the security agencies to be extra vigilant to prevent people from visiting the beaches since the ban on beaches due to the coronavirus pandemic has not been lifted.
Richard Gyan-Mensah the MP for Apam noted that “I feel your pain. We didn’t expect this but our ways are not the ways of the Lord. We, however, have hope in the resurrection that these children will be received by God. This tragedy has brought unity to the people of Apam and I ask that we continue to unite forever. We pray this tragedy never befall us again.”
The Queen mother of Apam Nana Essel Botchwey denied media reports that the children went to have sex in the sea and drowned.
She warned the media to be circumspect in their reportage and only report the truth adding that children of Apam are not promiscuous.
On behalf of the government, Madam Hawa Koomson donated GHS10,000 to each family, GHS10,000 to the Apam community and GHS5000 to the two surviving children.
Mr Gyan-Mensah also donated GHS500 to each family and GHS500 for each of the two surviving children.
