2 Minors drown in Weija Lake

Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO minors drowned in very strange circumstances on a hot afternoon last Saturday during a fishing expedition on the Weija lake.
The circumstances under which the two, Benjamin Hotor, 12 and Kwesi Panyin, 10, died have compelled the Weija police to begin intensive investigations into the deaths, particularly when one of the teenagers, Kwasi Panyin, had been described as a good swimmer.
The bodies of the two boys, who were said to be close friends, were found on the Densu River, near the Weija Dam, on Sunday, September 23, 2007 about 9 am.
While the body of Benjamin was found entangled in an old fishing net, that of Panyin was found floating on the river.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy.
The Weija District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) John Animpong, told newsmen yesterday that Benjamin, who lived at Kwashieman, visited Panyin on Saturday, September 22, 2007 at Galilea on the Kasoa road.
He said the two decided to go on a fishing expedition in a canoe at about 2 pm on that day but never returned.
He said the relatives of the two friends mounted a search for them and retrieved the bodies on Sunday, September 23, 2007 at about 9am.
DSP Animpong said Panyin was said to be a good swimmer and had been going on fishing expedition alone.
He said the circumstances under which the bodies were retrieved made the police to suspect foul play.
That, he said, was because there was a cut on the head of Benjamin, whose body was also entangled in a fishing net.
DSP Animpong said information available also indicated that some of the fishermen who usually trapped fish on the Densu river complained of their catch being stolen.
He said it was possible that one or some of such fishermen could assume that the two friends had stolen their catch.
He said the canoe the children used for the expedition had also not been found.
DSP Animpong said the police had not made any arrest yet.