 has begun investigations into a tragic boat accident on the Volta Lake that claimed 15 lives, including 11 children, after a vessel capsized near Kete Krachi on Saturday.){kind=link}
The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has begun investigations into a tragic boat accident on the Volta Lake that claimed 15 lives, including 11 children, after a vessel capsized near Kete Krachi on Saturday.
According to a statement released by the Authority on Sunday, the boat was “grossly overloaded” when it overturned, leaving only four survivors from the incident.
“This tragedy is heartbreaking. We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and the Kete Krachi community enduring this unimaginable loss,” the statement read.
A specialised team comprising maritime inspectors and members of the Navy Task Force has been deployed to the accident site to investigate the cause and ensure accountability.
The Authority also announced that, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, it will establish a high-level Casualty Investigations Committee to recommend urgent policy interventions and safety reforms for inland water transport.
In response to the tragedy, the GMA said it will intensify lakeside safety enforcement operations to curb overloading and prosecute boat operators who flout maritime safety regulations.
“Passengers must refuse to board visibly overloaded boats or those lacking safety equipment,” the Authority urged. “Your refusal could save a life, especially a child’s.”
Ghana has recorded several fatal boat accidents in recent years, especially on the Volta Lake, one of the country’s main inland water transport routes. E