Six additional individuals have been rescued, while eight others are feared to have drowned following the capsizing of a boat carrying displaced persons on the Black Volta at Dinie Tuonbo in Northern Ghana on Thursday, August 28, 2025.
This raises the total number of individuals rescued to 12.
Reports suggest that the boat was transporting 20 passengers when it attempted to navigate across the river, resulting in the unfortunate incident.
The passengers were escaping from Gbiniyiri, a farming community located in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region, which has been engulfed in violence due to a land dispute.
On Tuesday, August 26, the Chief’s Palace in Gbiniyiri was set on fire amid rising tensions, just days after violent clashes in the region resulted in six fatalities and 18 injuries. The conflict erupted when the local chief sold a piece of land to a private developer, a decision that faced strong opposition from certain residents. Violence ensued when the developer attempted to commence work and encountered resistance from the local community.
The clashes on Sunday, August 24, resulted in five deaths, with another individual killed the following day. Many of the injured individuals remain in critical condition due to gunshot and machete wounds.
The persistent unrest has compelled numerous residents—particularly women and children—to abandon their homes. Additionally, several houses and properties have been destroyed.
