A 14-year-old JHS 1 pupil of Dadeben Basic School, identified as Lawrence Dogbe, has tragically drowned in a river at Teachers’ Quarters, a suburb of Gomoa Nyanyano in the Gomoa East District.

The incident occurred during the school vacation when the teenager reportedly went swimming with two friends.

According to reports, the boys had gone to the river to swim, but after some time, Lawrence failed to resurface. His friends, unable to locate him, initially fled the scene. One of them later returned hours afterward to alert nearby residents.

A local resident, Tai Hayford, who assisted in retrieving the body, said the victim is believed to have drowned after slipping into a deep, concealed section of the river.

He further raised concerns about a long-collapsed bridge in the area, describing it as a major safety hazard that has remained unattended for years and poses a danger, especially to children.

The Gomoa East District Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation, Hassan Hamidu, confirmed the incident and assured that measures would be taken to repair the damaged bridge to help prevent future tragedies.

The body of the deceased has since been retrieved, as the community mourns the loss of the young student.