Saboba boat disaster: Headmaster remanded into prison custody

The headmaster of St Charles Lwanga Roman Catholic Junior High School in the Saboba District of the Northern Region was on Monday (15 November) remanded into prison custody.

Jashain Emmanuel was detained over the weekend when he turned himself in, in connection with the drowning of 10 pupils he allegedly sent to harvest rice on his farm.

The Tamale Magistrate Court remanded him to reappear on 29 November.

At least 10 junior high school pupils have been confirmed dead in a boat disaster on the Oti River in the Saboba District of the Northern Region.

Twenty-one were rescued on Friday, said Assistant Superintendent of Police Shine Zokoiku, the Saboba District commander.

The children were returning from a farm on Friday when the vessel capsized on the river.

Commiseration

Meanwhile, Rev Ntim Fordjour, deputy minister of education has led a government delegation to commiserate with the families of the deceased.

“It’s a tragic loss to the nation and the government shares in the grief of the chiefs and people of Saboba,” he said when he paid a courtesy call on the traditional leaders.

Drowning incidents are common in Ghana, especially in the southern regions, where accidents associated with illegal mining are common. In October, at least four other young people died when their boat capsized on the River Offin in the Ashanti Region.