The Ministry of Education has expressed deep sorrow following the tragic death of seven students from Lawra Senior High School who drowned in the Black Volta River during a routine school activity on the morning of Saturday, 14 June 2025.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, the Ministry conveyed its condolences to the grieving families and the wider school community.

“On behalf of the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu and government, I convey our deep shock and sadness to the families of the seven students of Lawra Senior High School who lost their lives in a tragic boat incident,” the statement read.

Read also: 7 Lawra SHS students missing, feared dead after boat capsizes on Black Volta

The incident occurred early Saturday morning when ten members of the school’s cadet corps reportedly attempted to cross the Black Volta River near Dikpe, a border area close to Burkina Faso, as part of a morning jogging exercise. Their canoe capsized halfway across the river.

The Ministry confirmed, based on reports from the Upper West Regional Minister and the Member of Parliament for Lawra, that three students were rescued, while the remaining seven tragically drowned. The victims include five girls and two boys.

Search and rescue efforts led by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, and the Ghana Education Service resulted in the successful retrieval of all seven bodies.

Haruna Iddrisu has directed the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service to urgently convene a meeting with the Regional and District Directors of Education, as well as the Headmaster of Lawra SHS, to understand the full circumstances of the incident. The Minister has asked for an immediate report on the matter.

“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,” the Ministry said.

While investigations are still ongoing, the Ministry has assured the public that it remains committed to safeguarding the lives of students across the country.

“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,” the statement concluded.