Ghana launches national lifeguarding initiative to combat high drowning rates

Ghana is set to launch a national Lifeguarding Initiative for Drowning Prevention on April 14, 2026, a collaborative effort by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology KNUST and the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit JH-IIRU, in partnership with the National Coordination Board NCB for Drowning Prevention. The initiative aims to significantly reduce the estimated 1,400 annual drowning deaths in Ghana, which occur in various settings including beaches, inland waterways, septic tanks, and domestic environments, disproportionately affecting children and adolescents. Swimming is identified as the leading activity contributing to these fatalities, with over 70% of ocean beach drownings occurring during swimming. The Accra metropolitan area experiences a fatal drowning rate more than double the national average. The initiative will focus on training and deploying professional lifeguards, strengthening coordinated rescue and emergency response systems, enhancing enforcement of water-safety regulations, and intensifying public education campaigns. This follows a 2025 stakeholder meeting that included the Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana Navy, and Ghana Police Service. Pilot lifeguard training sessions have already been conducted in high-risk coastal districts in Greater Accra. The Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, Minister of Parliament, will join the launch, which is themed "Drown