The World Health Organization is teaching children in Accra, Ghana, how to swim through new water-safety programs [1].

These initiatives aim to reduce the number of drowning deaths in the region. Because water safety is often overlooked in formal education, these lessons provide a critical layer of protection for children living near coastal or inland water sources.

The program is part of a broader campaign for World Drowning Prevention Day in 2026 [1]. Instructors focus on basic swimming skills and safety awareness to ensure children can navigate water environments without risking their lives.

The need for such interventions is driven by high mortality rates in the country. Drowning kills more than 1,000 Ghanaians each year [1]. By targeting children, the WHO hopes to build a generation of swimmers who can not only save themselves, but potentially assist others in distress.

Accra serves as the current hub for these lessons, where children participate in guided sessions designed to build confidence in the water [1]. The program emphasizes that drowning is a preventable cause of death through education and early intervention.

While the current focus is on Accra, the scale of the national crisis suggests a need for wider implementation. The WHO continues to advocate for integrated water-safety policies to lower the annual death toll across Ghana [1].

“Drowning kills over 1,000 Ghanaians each year.”

The focus on swimming lessons in Accra highlights a shift toward preventative public health measures in Ghana. By addressing a specific, high-mortality risk—drowning—the WHO is treating water safety as a critical health intervention rather than just a recreational skill, potentially creating a scalable model for other high-risk coastal regions.