A six-year-old girl has tragically drowned in an irrigation pond at Sonitra, a suburb of Kpetoe in the Volta Region, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has confirmed.
The incident occurred on Sunday, February 1, 2026, when the child, identified as Sarah Ahiafor, reportedly accompanied other children to wash clothes at a pond-like water body used for irrigation purposes.
According to a press statement issued by the Volta Regional Command of the GNFS on Monday, February 2, 2026, personnel from the Kpetoe Fire Station responded swiftly to a distress call at about 1:40 p.m.
The statement added that the rescue team, led by Assistant Station Officer (ASTNO) David Dzakah, immediately mobilised and conducted a search and rescue operation, retrieving the child’s body from the water, though all efforts to resuscitate her proved unsuccessful.
The deceased was subsequently handed over to the Ghana Police Service at the scene for preservation and further investigations.
Preliminary findings by the GNFS indicate that the drowning occurred while the child was in the company of other minors who had gone to the site without adult supervision.
The Fire Service has strongly cautioned parents and guardians to ensure children are not left unsupervised around open water bodies, warning that ponds, irrigation sites, and similar areas pose serious dangers and should only be accessed under the direct supervision of responsible adults
The GNFS advises parents and guardians to ensure that children do not visit or engage in activities around ponds, irrigation sites, and other open water bodies without adult supervision,” the statement read
The Ghana National Fire Service also extended condolences to the bereaved family and reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of life and property.
