TRAGEDY IN KPETOE: SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL DROWNS IN IRRIGATION POND
Fire Service urges parental supervision around open water bodies
A six-year-old girl, Sarah Ahiafor, has drowned in an irrigation pond at Sonitra, a suburb of Kpetoe in the Volta Region, turning what was meant to be a routine weekend chore into tragedy.
The incident occurred on Sunday, February 1, 2026, when Sarah reportedly followed a group of children to the site to wash clothes. According to preliminary reports from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the children were unsupervised when the girl accidentally slipped into the deep end of the pond.
Personnel from the Kpetoe Fire Station received a distress call around 1:40 p.m. and arrived promptly at the scene. A rescue team, led by Assistant Station Officer (ASTNO) David Dzakah, managed to retrieve the victim from the water. However, despite efforts to resuscitate her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a statement issued on Monday, February 2, the GNFS Volta Regional Command confirmed that the site was an irrigation facility not designed for recreational use. It cautioned residents to be vigilant and prevent children from going near such areas without adult supervision.
“The GNFS advises parents and guardians to ensure that children do not visit or engage in activities around ponds, irrigation sites, and other open water bodies without adult supervision,” the statement warned.
The body of the deceased has since been handed over to the Ghana Police Service and transferred to a local mortuary for preservation and further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drowning.
The Fire Service extended condolences to the Ahiafor family, describing the event as a “preventable tragedy” and urging the public to treat irrigation sites and open ponds as potential hazards, especially during the dry season when such locations often attract children.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
