Koforidua Police Probe Drowning of 13-Year-Old in Abandoned Quarry Pit

The Koforidua Divisional Police Command is investigating the drowning of a 13-year-old boy in an abandoned quarry pit at Aboabo, near Koforidua in the New Juaben South Municipality.

Locals say the old quarry, left unattended for years, has turned into a deep pool that poses serious risks to the public. The site still contains abandoned machinery, and prior blasting operations caused underground water to seep to the surface, forming a large, hazardous pool.

Citi News reports that four children visited the area, known locally as “Aboabo New York,” over the weekend to swim. During the outing, the JHS 1 student drowned. Fearing punishment, the other three children reportedly did not alert anyone, leaving the boy’s body in the water overnight.

The following day, four young men attempted to retrieve the body but were initially unsuccessful. They were instructed to perform traditional rituals involving eight eggs and schnapps before the body could be recovered. The boy’s family also carried out their own rituals as part of the retrieval process.

The body was eventually recovered and deposited at the Eastern Regional Roman Hospital morgue. Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Residents have expressed concern over the dangers of the site, which is made even riskier by three high-tension cables running nearby. They are urging authorities to secure or reclaim the abandoned quarry to prevent further tragedies.