Investigations by journalist Ernest Gakpey Apatsia reveal that for about two months, large quantities of dead or weak tilapia have been appearing along the Afram River. According to Moses Ziadienu, popularly known as Agbogbale, a fisherman from the Afram Plains in Kwahu South, the phenomenon has affected fishing communities including Dzemeni, Akatey, Ekye Amafrom, Agordekey, Kpando, and surrounding villages.

He explained that the situation has become so severe that fishermen in these areas have largely abandoned normal fishing activities. Instead of setting nets, they now collect tilapia directly from the river, process them, and transport them to markets in Accra and other cities for sale.

Beyond the fish, there is a deeper public health concern. Most communities around the Afram Plains do not have access to piped water and rely entirely on the Afram River for drinking and domestic use. This means any contamination of the river poses a direct and immediate risk to human life, potentially exposing thousands of residents to serious health complications.

When questioned about efforts to alert authorities through local radio stations, Ziadienu expressed frustration, stating that media outlets appear more interested in political discussions than environmental or public health concerns. He also noted that the affected fishermen have no direct contact with their Member of Parliament, Hon. Joseph Appeah, and that the local Assembly Member—himself a fisherman—is reportedly aware of the situation but has taken no visible action.

The development raises serious concerns about food safety, environmental pollution, and the long-term health of communities that depend on the Afram River for their livelihood and survival.

This report is a call to the general public, civil society organizations, and especially the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, and public health authorities to urgently investigate the cause of the salty tilapia and take immediate steps to protect lives, the ecosystem, and the fishing industry.

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The incident occurred in a fishing community near Agyata village in the Afram Plains South District of the Eastern Region, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has revealed.

The unfortunate incident occurred on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at Agyata Electoral Area.

Twelve people were crossing the river from Azietsi-Korpe to Agyata when their canoe capsized and they drowned.

Personnel from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Police, Fire Service, and Ambulance Service responded to the scene and rescued six people, including four female adults and two male adults.

Five bodies, including three elderly women and two young girls, were retrieved and confirmed dead.

Updating Citi News on the sad incident on Friday, Alfred Owiredu-Agyeman, the Eastern Regional Operations Director of NADMO, said “We just received an update from our District Director that the sixth body has been retrieved from the river.”

“We wish to caution our canoe operators on the river Volta and Afram in the Eastern region to adhere to the use of life jackets strictly. NADMO supplied life jackets to these canoe operators somewhere last year, and we realised they are not using the life jackets well. At least using the life jacket will go a long way to save lives” he added.

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The heartbreaking incident occurred at Kyiribra, a village near Agya Atta, in Afram Plains South district of the Eastern region.

Assembly for the area, Johnson Anglisinya said the incident happened on Wednesday November 8,2023.

According to reports, a farmer was transporting the women from Maame Krobo to help me on his farm.

But the boat carrying them overturned midway through its journey leading to the sudden demise of the women and their children.

Adom News’ Akwasi Dwamena who followed the story reported that, a search party has been sent out to look for the missing body in the river.

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The ferry was transporting scores of passengers including traders, and Cargo vehicles loaded with goods from Ekye Amanfrom towards Adawso in Afram Plains South at about 4:00pm on Monday.

The engine stopped working after the pontoon was hit by a storm while moving.

It was subsequently dragged downstream by wind to anchor on the deepest side of the river.

It took the intervention of some local boat operators to rescue the passengers onboard the ferry to the shores of the river.

However, Cargo vehicles and passenger vehicles are still stuck on the river.

A tug boat from the Volta Lake Transport Company is expected to pull back the ferry.

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The Ferry has been operating on a single-engine for the past years since a complementary engine damaged, raising safety concerns.

Gibson Yaw Agyei Danso, Chairman of the Ghana National Cargo Drivers Association who was a victim told news men that they have complained several times about the pontoon’s operation on a single-engine but to no avail.

The engine of the pontoon has stopped working and has been pulled by wind to the downstream of the river.

“We, the Ghana National Cargo Drivers Association have been complaining that this is dangerous.

“For the past eight hours, we have been stuck on the river and it will take the intervention of tug boat, Queen, from Akosombo to pull the ferry out” he said.

This is not the first time such an accident has occurred.