A five-year-old girl has died after falling into an uncovered, water-filled manhole at Ansaful near the Christ Apostolic Church in Winneba.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday, September 3, 2026, with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) confirming the recovery of the child’s body three days later.
According to the GNFS, the victim’s father, Francis Zewu, reported the incident to the Winneba Fire Station at about 7:57 p.m., prompting an immediate rescue response.
A four-member team led by STNO I Anthony McCarthy was dispatched at 8:16 p.m. and arrived at the scene approximately 16 minutes later.
Upon arrival, the firefighters found relatives and church members gathered around the manhole, which was estimated to be about 12 feet deep, uncovered and filled with water.
The rescue team quickly commenced an operation to locate and retrieve the child, using a water pump to remove water and improve access to the manhole.
After about 34 minutes of recovery efforts, the firefighters retrieved the lifeless body of the five-year-old from the manhole.
The child’s body was subsequently handed over to the Police at the scene for further action.
The incident has raised renewed concerns about the dangers posed by uncovered manholes and other unsecured infrastructure, particularly in areas frequented by children and residents.
