DABOYA, Savannah Region ~ Two people have died with one person missing while four others have been rescued after a canoe carrying seven passengers capsized on the White Volta River at Daboya in the North Gonja District.

The incident occurred on Thursday, August 27, 2026, during a routine river crossing amid rising water levels and stronger currents reportedly resulting from the spillage of the Bagre Dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso.

According to local officials and commuters, the tragedy has renewed concerns over the lack of basic safety equipment for residents who depend on canoes to cross the river.

The Deputy Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) for the North Gonja District, Mr. Eliasu, described the situation as worrying and called for immediate intervention from government and other stakeholders.

He said the absence of life jackets and other rescue equipment continues to expose passengers and canoe operators to serious danger, particularly during periods of increased water flow.

“The lack of life jackets and other safety logistics is putting lives at risk. Government must intervene quickly,” he stressed.

A regular commuter, Mr. Saeed Kagbal, also appealed to government to expedite work on the ongoing Daboya Bridge project, which residents believe could provide a permanent solution to the risks associated with crossing the river by canoe.

According to him, the completion of the bridge would reduce the community's dependence on canoes and significantly improve the safety of residents, traders and travellers who regularly use the route.

Mr. Kagbal further called for temporary safety measures to be introduced at the riverbank while construction of the bridge continues.

Meanwhile, experienced canoe paddler Mr. Jamani Abdul Hafiz attributed the increasingly dangerous conditions on the river to the high water levels associated with the Bagre Dam spillage.

He explained that the resulting strong currents have made canoe crossings more difficult, while the absence of life jackets has reportedly discouraged some commuters from attempting the journey.

The incident has heightened anxiety among residents, who are calling on government, NADMO and other relevant authorities to urgently provide life jackets, rescue equipment and other safety measures to prevent further loss of life.

Residents are also renewing calls for the speedy completion of the Daboya Bridge as a long-term solution to the dangers associated with crossing the White Volta River by canoe.

Report By: Saeed Kagbal