A 49-year-old farmer, Mr Isaac Buckman, is feared dead after a canoe accident on the River Bobie Fum at Assin Dansame in the Assin North District of the Central Region left one person missing and four others rescued.
The incident occurred on Friday, May 29, around 10:00 a.m. when five farmers crossed the river, which serves as a key route for residents accessing farms and nearby communities. The canoe is believed to have capsized midstream, prompting an urgent rescue operation.
According to the Assin North Police Command, led by Superintendent Eric Yao Avudzivi, the accident was triggered when one of the passengers suddenly jumped into the water, destabilising the canoe and causing it to overturn. All occupants were thrown into the river as a result.
A combined rescue effort involving local residents and police officers managed to save four of the passengers. However, Mr Buckman has since remained missing, with search operations still ongoing.
The Assemblyman for the area, Mr Mark Nti Ballack, said the river had become dangerously swollen following recent heavy rains, making canoe crossings highly risky. He warned that the waterway has become increasingly unsafe during the rainy season.
Community leaders further revealed that this is the third canoe-related incident recorded on the river this season, with previous accidents reportedly resulting in three deaths.
Authorities and residents continue to search the river in hopes of locating the missing farmer as concerns grow over repeated water transport tragedies in the area during heavy rains.
