A 6-year-old boy has died and his 16-year-old sister is in critical condition after both fell into an abandoned septic tank at Buduburam Blue Estate in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region.
The siblings, who are Liberian nationals, are reported to have gone to fetch water from the 13-foot-deep abandoned tank on Friday morning amid an ongoing water shortage in the area.
According to eyewitnesses, the pair slipped and fell into the tank. A woman who saw the incident raised an alarm, drawing residents to the scene. The community managed to rescue the teenage girl, but the younger boy could not be immediately located.
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service later arrived to conduct a search. The boy was only retrieved after traditional authorities performed libation at the scene. He was rushed to St. Gregory Catholic Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Residents say the abandoned septic tank has become a source of water due to severe shortages in the area. The shortages have been linked to illegal mining activities, which polluted the Ayensu River and led to the shutdown of the Agona Kwanyarko treatment plant.
The Assemblyman for the Buduburam Electoral Area, Emmanuel Dogbe, said he will engage traditional leaders and residents to ensure the abandoned tank is properly covered to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
