Education Ministry mourns Lawra SHS students lost in canoe tragedy, orders urgent probe

The Ministry of Education has expressed deep sorrow following the tragic death of seven students from Lawra Senior High School, who drowned after a canoe carrying 10 members of the school’s cadet corps capsized on the Black Volta River on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

In a statement signed by Deputy Minister of Education and Member of Parliament, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, on Sunday June 15, the Ministry confirmed that the students were on a routine morning jogging exercise when they attempted to cross the river near Dikpe, on the Ghana-Burkina Faso border. The canoe they boarded tragically capsized midstream, resulting in the deaths of five girls and two boys. Three students survived.

The Ministry said it received confirmation from the Upper West Regional Minister and the Member of Parliament for Lawra that the bodies of all seven victims have been recovered by a combined rescue team comprising the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, and the Ghana Education Service (GES).

Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Education, has since directed the Director General of the GES to convene an emergency meeting with the Regional and District Directors of Education, as well as the headmaster of Lawra SHS, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. A full report is expected urgently.

“We share in the grief of the affected families and the entire school community,” the statement said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this extremely difficult time.”

The Ministry further assured the public of its continued commitment to student safety and said it awaits the official report from the Ghana Police Service to guide further action.

Ministry of Education Consoles Families of Seven Lawra SHS Who Perished in Canoe Accident

On behalf of the Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu and government, I convey our deep shock and saddeness to the families of the seven students of Lawra Senior High School who lost their lives in a tragic boat incident on the morning of Saturday, June 15, 2025.

In an unexpected and heartbreaking turn of events, ten students from the school’s cadet corps, during a routine morning jogging exercise, reportedly attempted to cross the Black Volta River near Dikpe into Burkina Faso. The canoe they joined tragically capsized midway through the journey.

We have confirmation through the Upper West Regional Minister and the Member of Parliament for Lawra that three of the ten students were rescued while seven drowned. The bodies of the seven students who lost their lives, five girls and two boys, have since been retrieved by teams from National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, and the Ghana Education Service.

The Honorable Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu has instructed the Director General of the Ghana Education Service to convene an urgent meeting with the Regional and District Directors of Education and the Headmaster of the school and to report back urgently.

We share in the grief of the affected families and the entire school community. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this extremely difficult time. As the Ministry awaits a full report from the Ghana Police Service, we wish to assure Ghanaians that we will continue to do our best to ensure the safety and security of our students.