Update: Six rescued, eight feared drowned in Black Volta boat accident

Six additional individuals have been rescued, while eight others are presumed drowned following the capsizing of a boat carrying displaced persons on the Black Volta at Dinie Tuonbo in Northern Ghana on Thursday, August 28, 2025.

This brings the total number of rescued persons to 12. Reports indicate that the boat was carrying 20 passengers when it attempted to cross the river, resulting in the tragic accident.

The passengers were fleeing Gbiniyiri, a farming community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region, which has been plagued by violence over a land dispute.

On Tuesday, August 26, the Chief’s Palace in Gbiniyiri was set ablaze amid escalating tensions, just days after deadly clashes in the area resulted in six fatalities and 18 injuries.

The conflict began when the local chief sold a parcel of land to a private developer, a move strongly opposed by some residents. Violence erupted after the developer attempted to start work and was met with resistance from the community.

The clashes on Sunday, August 24, claimed five lives, with another person killed the following day. Many of the injured remain in critical condition with gunshot and machete wounds.

The ongoing unrest has forced many residents—especially women and children—to flee their homes. Several houses and properties have also been destroyed.

SOURCE: Citifmonline