The Honourable Member of Parliament for Afram Plains North Constituency, Worlase Kpeli, is urging the government and Parliament to immediately prioritise water safety training for young individuals residing near rivers and water bodies throughout Ghana.
This appeal follows a troubling increase in drowning incidents, particularly in rural and riverine communities, where such tragedies are becoming alarmingly routine.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the MP emphasised that many of these deaths are preventable with early education in swimming and basic water survival skills.
He expressed concern that children and young people in these communities often cross rivers daily, whether to attend school, help with farming, or carry out household chores, without the skills or safety equipment needed to protect themselves.
“We cannot continue to accept these drowning incidents as a normal part of life,” the MP said. “It is long overdue for leaders at all levels to act decisively and ensure that no more lives are needlessly lost.”
The lawmaker urged institutions such as the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Navy, and other relevant agencies to collaborate on targeted safety training programmes for students and youth living near water bodies.
These programmes, he argued, would both save lives and empower youth to confidently and safely navigate their environment.
He also called on Parliament to take responsibility, stressing that it has the power to influence national policy and resource allocation for such critical interventions.
“Parliament must act. We have the responsibility and the authority to make a lasting difference. “Let us decide today to equip our young people with the life-saving skills they need to survive and thrive,” he concluded.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
