A boat accident on the White Volta has claimed the lives of an unknown number of people escaping communal violence in Gbenyiri, in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District.

According to a report by 3news.com, the victims were attempting to cross into Côte d'Ivoire, near the Dinie-Tuonbo enclave.

The Savannah Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mahama Zakaria, stated that the vessel carrying the fleeing residents capsized, leaving six passengers rescued and several others unaccounted for.

“The priority now is to save lives and retrieve those still missing,” Zakaria said.

Government deploys military to Bawku over escalating conflict

He added that NADMO is leading a search and rescue operation to locate the missing victims.

The incident has left hundreds of displaced residents stranded at Dinie, awaiting safe passage, with authorities warning that the death toll may increase.

The White Volta, a major river in Ghana, has a history of deadly boat accidents, often attributed to overcrowding, inadequate safety equipment, and poorly maintained vessels.

Hundreds displaced as women and children flee homes amid violent clashes in Gbiniyiri

The conflict in Gbenyiri, a farming community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of Ghana’s Savannah Region, erupted on August 24, 2025, over a long-standing land dispute.

Triggered by the sale of a small parcel of land by the Gbenyiri chief to a private developer, the disagreement escalated when community members resisted the developer’s access, leading to violent clashes.

The violence, which has taken a tribal dimension, according to reports, has claimed at least 10 lives, including that of the Kalba chief, and injured 18 others.

The burning of the Gbenyiri chief’s palace and other properties further intensified the crisis, displacing hundreds, particularly women and children, who fled to safety.

Despite the deployment of 300 police and military personnel, the situation remains volatile, with ongoing efforts by the Savannah Regional Security Council to restore peace.

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