Tears flowed uncontrollably as the people of Apam in the Central region today, Tuesday, 16 March 2021, buried eleven teenagers who drowned last week while they went to the beach to swim.

In all, 13 teenagers drowned.

The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson, who represented President Akufo-Addo at the funeral ceremony, advised parents to communicate more with their children, monitor them and know their whereabouts always.

She also advised the youth to take a cue from the tragedy and be obedient to their parents.

For her part, Central Regional Minister Justina Marigold Assan consoled the families and expressed sadness that her first official duty was to attend the burial of the teenagers.

She promised that the government will train lifeguards along the coast to help prevent such tragedies.

She beseeched the churches to counsel the two survivors to help them recover from the trauma.

Ms Assan further called on the security agencies to be extra vigilant to prevent people from visiting the beaches since the ban on beaches, due to the coronavirus pandemic, has not been lifted.

Mr Richard Gyan-Mensah, the MP for Apam, noted: “I feel your pain. We didn’t expect this but our ways are not the ways of the Lord. We, however, have hope in the resurrection that these children will be received by God. This tragedy has brought unity to the people of Apam and I ask that we continue to unite forever. We pray this tragedy never befall us again.”

The queenmother of Apam, Nana Essel Botchwey denied media reports that the children went to have sex in the sea and drowned.

She warned the media to be circumspect in their reportage and only report the truth adding that children of Apam were not promiscuous.  

On behalf of the government, Mrs Hawa Koomson donated GHS10,000 to each family, GHS10,000 to the Apam community and GHS5,000 to the two survivors.

Mr Gyan-Mensah also donated GHS500 to each family and GHS500 to each of the two survivors.