A canoe trip by five children across the Ochi River at Assin Ochiso in the Central Region ended in heartbreak on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, when 12-year-old Kojo Adu, affectionately called Joe, drowned while rescuing his companions.
The group, made up of three siblings, a friend, and a nine-year-old canoe paddler from the nearby Amoanda community, had set out in search of avocados to sell.
Midway through the crossing, the canoe became unstable under their combined weight.
As panic set in, Kojo sprang into action, helping three children-including the paddler-swim to shore.
