The Police in Apam, Central Region has retrieved twelve bodies of teenagers who defied COVID-19 restrictions and snuck to swim in the sea.
The large body count has caused fear that up to twenty children may have drowned, reports Adom FM.
“We were able to retrieve six bodies in the morning. We are collaborating with the DCE. My investigator is also there. So very soon, we will mobilize the bodies to see how many we have lost,” the District Police Commander, Moses Osakono is quoted to have said.
DSP Osakono is also reported to have confirmed that eight bodies had been retrieved from the sea in the morning while four others were retrieved later in the afternoon.
The beach, he said had been closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “No one has been visiting the sea. We made a clarion call to ensure no one goes to the sea. We were shocked. It was a shock to us this morning,” he said.
“They (the children) did not use the usual route that leads to the sea. They said the children used the path near the Apam river to the sea. Even those who are around the area could not see them.”
According to the police, the 12 deceased are between the ages of 14 and 17. Their bodies have been deposited at the morgue of the Apam District Hospital for autopsy.