A five-year-old girl has drowned after reportedly falling into an uncovered borehole at Ansaful in Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana.
The incident occurred yesterday evening while a one-week programme was ongoing at a nearby Christ Apostolic Church.
The child had reportedly gone missing at about 5 p.m., with relatives and residents subsequently joining the search for her.
An eyewitness says the search took a dramatic turn when one of the girl’s slippers was found near the borehole, while another was reportedly discovered inside it.
He says people subsequently suspected that the child could have fallen into the borehole.
According to him, the water had to be pumped out before the search could continue.
The eyewitness says the girl’s body was eventually found inside the borehole and retrieved with the assistance of a ladder.
He says personnel from the Fire Service, Police Service and NADMO were at the scene and worked together during the recovery operation before the body was handed over to the police.
The body was later conveyed to the mortuary at about 10 p.m., while a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted.
The eyewitness has meanwhile raised concerns about the safety of the borehole, claiming it was originally intended to serve the church but had been left uncovered.
He says he had previously complained about the condition of the borehole, which he claims was no longer serving its original purpose.
He also says although the facility was intended for the church, other residents continued to visit the area to fetch water.
The borehole has since been closed following the incident.
Police investigations are expected to establish the circumstances that led to the child’s death.
The Fire Service says its personnel, together with the Police and NADMO, worked jointly to recover the body of a five-year-old girl who reportedly fell into a borehole at Ansaful in the Central Region.
Public Relations Officer of the Fire Service, ADO 1 Kwasi Attifah, says the service received a distress call at about 7:57 p.m. yesterday that a five-year-old girl had fallen into a borehole.
He says although the Fire Service vehicle was out of commission at the time, personnel made alternative arrangements to get to Ansaful, where a large crowd had gathered.
ADO 1 Kwasi Attifah says initial indications at the scene suggested that the child could be inside the borehole.
He says the team used a water pump to remove the water from the borehole before personnel entered to continue the search.
The body of the girl was eventually located inside the borehole and retrieved with the assistance of a ladder.
The Fire Service personnel then handed the body over to the police.
ADO 1 Kwasi Attifah says investigations are ongoing by the Police and the outcome will be communicated in due course.
He has also cautioned parents and guardians to keep children under close supervision, particularly when they are playing in areas that could pose danger.
The Fire Service PRO has further advised people undertaking construction projects to ensure that dangerous structures and openings are properly secured or demolished after construction to prevent similar accidents.
