By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Anloga (V/R), Oct. 29, GNA – The body of a 48-year-old fisherman, Etsey Paul Kabotso, who went missing while fishing alone, has been found washed ashore at Tegbi Ashiata in the Anloga District of the Volta Region.
The deceased was reportedly last seen on October 24, when he went fishing alone, but failed to return home, which prompted concerns about his whereabouts.
His body was discovered on October 26 along the Tegbi Ashiata seashore, two days after he was reported missing.
Mr Ephraim Dodzi Jumpah, the Assembly Member for the area, disclosed the incident in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, and expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the fisherman’s death.
“The incident was reported to the Anloga District Police, who arrived at the scene with a sanitation officer to assess the situation and undertake the necessary procedures,” he said.
Mr Jumpah explained that the body had significantly decomposed after spending some few days in the sea, which made immediate burial necessary.
He said the police and sanitation officers, in consultation with the deceased’s family, made the necessary arrangements for the burial after assessing the condition of the body.
“Mr Kabotso is a well-known carpenter and fisherman in the community who has been in the fishing business for several years, and we cannot really tell what actually happened to him during his last fishing expedition,” Mr Jumpah said.
He said the deceased, a father of three, left behind a family, including his firstborn child, who is currently in Junior High School (JHS) three and preparing for the final examination.
Mr Jumpah said the exact circumstances leading to his death remained unknown, as no one could establish what had happened to him while he was at sea and cautioned fishermen in the area against going to sea alone.
He stressed that fishing in pairs or groups could improve safety and make it easier to respond to emergencies.
The Assembly Member said the Anloga District Assembly by-laws prohibited fishermen from going fishing alone, and urged them to comply with the regulations to help prevent similar incidents.
He appealed to fishermen to prioritise their safety, follow the Assembly’s directives and support one another while at sea, saying the present incident had highlighted the risks associated with fishing alone.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo