The police in Prestea Huni-Valley in the Western Region, have deployed more personnel to 'Sika Ne Asem' to intensify search for the bodies of seven persons who were drowned while crossing the river over the weekend.

The seven, including five persons said to be from the same family, drowned after a canoe in which they were travelling capsized. 

The five - a woman, her three daughters and a baby - were crossing a river to Prestea and later travel to Takwa for the Jehovah’s Witness convention there.

They were compelled to use the canoe because the only bridge linking the community to Prestea had been rendered useless by flood waters.

Three bodies have so far been recovered, leaving the woman and her three daughters.

District Crime Officer, Emmanuel Winsori told Joy News they hope to find the other victims by the close of day.

"We've mobilised the whole community...we are praying that by the close of day we should get something [positive]"

He urged the residents to exercise extreme caution and abide by safety measures before crossing the river with canoe.