Young Ghanaian woman makes history swimming the entire stretch of the Volta River

A 30 year old Ghanaian woman, Ms. Yvette Tetteh, has made history after swimming the entire stretch of the Volta River, covering a distance of four hundred and fifty kilometers kilometers in forty-six (46) days.

She swam from Buipe in the Northern Region to Tsalekope at Ada Foah in the Ada East District of the Greater Accra Region, making her the first person in Ghana and Africa to cover such a distance in swimming.

Mr. Kwaku Ansa Addo-Koranteng, Chief Executive Officer of Bravehearts Expeditions and Captain of “The Woman Who Does Not Fear”, the solar powered research vessel which accompanied the lady swimmer said his team was embarking on a research to take air and water samples to know the extent to which textiles from the Western part of the world pollute the water bodies in Ghana.

He disclosed that the Korle lagoon in Accra which has now been choked with textiles is a typical example of the adverse effect of the pollution of Ghana’s water bodies.

According to him, Yvette Tetteh, swam and followed them (the team in the vessel) the entire distance while they were in the vessel taking their samples, marking the navigation course and guarding her.

He noted that Yvette’s exploit has really helped Ghana to make history in Africa since that was the first time such an adventure had taken place in Ghana and Africa.

“This is going down history and will even prove a point in the research that Volta River is swimmable”, Mr. Addo-Koranteng noted.

Yvette Tetteh who looked very exhausted on completion of the adventure told journalists that she initially doubted the possibility of swimming the entire length of the river but she was buoyed by faith and the history that awaited her to hit the target.

“At a point, I felt really tired, I thought I couldn’t make it, but the urge to make history was stronger”, she said.

Some of the traditional leaders of Ada who received Yvette and her team with a mini-durbar at Tsalekope, Ada on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 amidst clapping and admiration of her sheer determination and skill lauded her and used the opportunity to urge young ladies to endeavor to break barriers.

Mr. Ayiku Akuaku, who was part of a delegation from the Ada Paramountcy, said “Yvette’s ability to swim this long distance calls for the day to be set aside for commemoration. He noted that the recommendation will be made to the Ada Traditional Council and authorities in the tourism sector for consideration.”