A man has drowned in the Ashanti region of Ghana while being baptized in a river in what witnesses describe as a horrifying accident.
The incident happened on Saturday, November 30, 2019, at about 10 am local time at Aniamoa, a community in the Atwima Mponua District.
Isaac Frimpong, 21, was taking part in the Christian rite in the waters of the Offin River – about two hours drive from the regional capital Kumasi, when tragedy struck.
Distressing images showed the recovered body of Frimpong, who was confirmed dead by the police after worshippers of the Christ Redeemer Church struggled to rescue him.
“He was earlier spotted along the banks. We had no idea of his whereabouts until he was spotted drifting backwards in the river,” a witness recounted to DailyMailGH.com.
Police were called to the scene and arrested Pastor Paul Asante —the head pastor of the church, while officers were conveying the young man’s body into a waiting vehicle.
Family members of the deceased have been informed of the death of their son. Friends and sympathizers had called other members of the congregation to confirm the sad news.
“I do not hold the church accountable for Isaac’s death”, a brother said, adding that his only duty now is to bury him and ‘leave matters in God’s hands’.
Source: J. Ofori, Daily Mail GH