Ghana-Togo border river drowning claims life of 20-year-old

A 20-year-old man, Kombat Yaw Yiremiah, drowned while assisting travelers across a river separating Ghana and Togo at Tambalug in the Tempane District of the Upper East Region. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, August 16, 2026.

Yiremiah frequently helped travelers, including Togolese nationals and people from various Ghanaian cities, navigate the river crossing. As of Monday, August 17, 2026, his body had not been recovered.

Search efforts are being conducted by community members, relatives, and personnel from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). George Alale Akuka, the Tempane District Director of NADMO, confirmed that teams have covered significant distances along the river but have yet to locate the victim. The search has also involved traditional community consultations to assist in the recovery efforts.