The quiet farming community of Jitong, nestled near Kupulima in Ghana’s Sissala West District, was recently struck by tragedy. Two young children, Mumuni Asibu, a five-year-old boy, and Mumuni Tasilima, a seven-year-old girl, lost their lives in a devastating drowning accident. The children, both students at the local Jitong basic school, were returning home from a day of farm work with their grandmother when the incident occurred. They were attempting to cross a normally manageable stream that had transformed into a raging torrent due to heavy rainfall. This heartbreaking event underscores the dangers faced by children in rural communities, particularly during the demanding farming and rainy seasons.
The sequence of events leading to the tragedy began with the children accompanying their grandmother to the rice farm. As the weather turned inclement and rain began to fall, the grandmother decided to head home early with one of the children. The remaining four children, including Asibu and Tasilima, were left to make their way back on a donkey cart. The grandmother, likely unaware of the rapidly rising water levels in the stream, could not have foreseen the impending disaster. This seemingly routine trip home took a tragic turn as the children approached the stream separating Jitong from Lan, a village near Leo on the route to Burkina Faso.
Unbeknownst to the children, the stream had swollen significantly due to the downpour. Two of the children, presumably exercising caution, disembarked from the donkey cart to assess the situation. Meanwhile, the other two children, including Asibu and Tasilima, remained on the cart, attempting to cross the flooded stream with the donkey. The force of the rushing water proved too powerful. The donkey cart, along with the children and the animal, were swept away by the surging current.
The two surviving children, witnessing the horrifying scene unfold before their eyes, were left traumatized and unsure of how to respond. In the darkness and continuing rain, they ran to a nearby community to seek help and report the tragic event that had just transpired. Their arrival undoubtedly spurred immediate action, with villagers quickly organizing a search party to locate the missing children and the donkey. However, their efforts were hampered by the darkness and ongoing rain, rendering the search unsuccessful throughout the night.
As dawn broke and the rain subsided, the heartbreaking reality of the tragedy became fully apparent. The bodies of the two young children were recovered from the flooded stream, their lives tragically cut short. The community of Jitong, plunged into mourning, prepared to lay the children to rest according to Islamic tradition. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by children in rural communities, especially during periods of inclement weather and challenging agricultural demands.
The tragic drowning has prompted calls for increased vigilance and proactive measures to protect children within the community. Mr. Katara Batong, the Assembly member for the Fialibelle electoral area, expressed his deep sorrow over the incident and urged parents to prioritize the safety of their children. He stressed the importance of adult supervision, especially during farming activities and when children are near bodies of water. Mr. Batong’s advice underscored the critical role of adult decision-making in safeguarding children’s well-being, particularly in potentially hazardous situations like crossing flooded rivers or streams. He cautioned community members against attempting such crossings during or after heavy rains, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of flash floods and the inherent risks involved. This tragic event serves as a somber reminder of the need for heightened awareness and precautionary measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The community of Jitong mourns the loss of these two young lives, while also grappling with the lessons learned and the importance of safeguarding the most vulnerable members of their society.
