At least
12 children have drowned while others are feared missing in Ghana’s Central
Region despite a ban on sea swimming due to COVID-19, officials say.
The
victims were among dozens who had flocked to the Apam beach in the Gomoa West
District to play football on March 7.
The
victims include two females all ranging between the ages of 14 and 17,
according to a statement from the Central Regional Police Command.
Beaches
in Ghana remained shut since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the West African
country.
A search
operation is underway with the help of local divers, a Police Commander at Apam
told local media.
“In the
morning we had six…since the outbreak of COVID we had intensified public
education in the area and our men have been implementing the ban. But they
shockingly did not use the main beach road and the information is that they
went in their numbers”, the officer said in an interview.
The victims ignored COVID safety warnings and
drowned, the police chief added in an interview.
A
statement from the Central Regional Police Command also said two victims were
rescued and were on admission at the Apam Hospital.
All 12
bodies have since been deposited at the St. Luke’s Catholic Hospital morgue
pending autopsy.
Investigations are ongoing, the police said.
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