The Minority Caucus in Parliament has issued a powerful ultimatum to the government, demanding immediate action on inland water safety following the tragic boat accident on the Volta Lake that claimed 15 lives near Kete Krachi on Saturday, October 11, 2025.
In a scathing statement, the Caucus reminded the government of a US$150 million facility secured from the Korean Exim Bank in 2020 specifically for the modernisation of inland water transport and the installation of floating pontoons for the Volta Lake Transport Limited (VLTL).
Also Read: GIMPA in crisis: PhD students accuse Rector of sabotage over ’10-year programmes’
Signed by the Ranking Member on the Roads and Transportation Committee, Hon. Kennedy Nyarko Osei, the statement argued that the technical and financial homework for the project is already complete. A feasibility study conducted by the Ghanaian firm, Vision Consult, has already identified key infrastructure needs, positioning the project to integrate the Volta Lake into a safe, national multimodal transport network.
“This project is designed to transform the Volta Lake into a safe and efficient means for transporting people and cargo.1 We therefore demand that the current government treat this as a matter of national priority and urgently ensure these funds are disbursed for immediate execution,” the Caucus emphasized.
The Minority warned that any further delay would amount to a “profound failure” of the government’s core responsibility to protect the estimated two million Ghanaians whose livelihoods and daily transport depend on the lake.
Beyond the facility, the Caucus heavily charged the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) to intensify its regulatory oversight, particularly across the volatile Volta Lake and Afram Plains routes.
Hon. Kennedy Osei stressed, “The GMA must immediately step up its mandate to regulate inland water transport. This must include strict registration of all pontoons and vessels, and rigorous enforcement of loading regulations to eliminate overloading.”
Describing the Volta Lake as a critical national asset, the Minority extended condolences to the bereaved families, insisting that decisive action must be taken both in memory of the 15 victims and in the interest of the millions who rely on the waterway.