A 20-year-old man, identified as Kombat Yaw Yiremiah, has drowned in a river separating Ghana and Togo at Tambalug in the Tempane District of the Upper East Region.
The incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, August 16, 2026, while Yiremiah was reportedly assisting travellers to cross the river.
As of Monday, August 17, his body had not been recovered, with community members, relatives and personnel from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) continuing the search.
According to the deceased’s family, Yiremiah and some of his colleagues regularly assisted travellers, including Togolese nationals and people travelling from Kumasi, Accra, Bolgatanga and Tamale, to cross the river between Ghana and Togo.
He had reportedly gone about his usual activity on Sunday when the tragedy occurred.
The Tempane District Director of NADMO, George Alale Akuka, confirmed that his team was involved in the search for Yiremiah.
He said the search team had covered a considerable distance along the river but had not been able to locate the body as of Monday afternoon.
Mr Akuka said the search would continue until the body was found and recovered.
“So myself and my team, we are still on the ground searching for him,” he said.
Mr Akuka also disclosed that traditional considerations had been incorporated into the recovery efforts, with the community consulting people who had previously assisted in locating victims in similar circumstances.
He said there was optimism that the body would be located following the consultation.
However, he stressed that NADMO personnel remained on the ground and would continue monitoring the situation.
Following the incident, the family and residents appealed to the Ghana Police Service and NADMO to provide the necessary support and equipment to help recover Yiremiah’s body.
They said professional rescue personnel and appropriate equipment were needed to conduct the search safely, particularly given the difficult conditions at the river.
The incident has left the family and the Tambalug community devastated, particularly because Yiremiah was reportedly helping travellers cross the border river when he drowned.
Residents are therefore appealing to the authorities to intensify efforts to recover the body and bring closure to the grieving family.
As the search continues, Yiremiah’s family remains anxiously waiting for the recovery of their son.
