Member of Parliament for Krachi West, Rev. Hon. Helen Adjoa Ntoso, has called for the strict enforcement of safety standards on Ghana’s waterways following the tragic boat accident on the Volta Lake that claimed 16 lives, including 11 children.
Addressing Parliament on Wednesday in a statement, the MP described the October 11, 2025 disaster at Okumah, an island community in her constituency, as heartbreaking and a painful reminder of the dangers facing residents who rely on water transport daily.
According to Rev. Ntoso, the boat was transporting over 20 passengers from Okumah to Debume to attend the funeral of a relative when it capsized.
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Preliminary investigations indicate that overloading and inadequate safety measures may have contributed to the disaster.
She revealed that only two people, a young woman and her baby, survived the accident, after losing eight members of their family.
The Krachi West MP commended the government and key stakeholders for their swift response to the tragedy.
She noted that the Ghana Maritime Authority has launched a formal investigation, while the government covered funeral expenses for the victims.
Rev. Ntoso also praised Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang for personally visiting the affected community. She also acknowledged businessman and philanthropist Ibrahim Mahama, CEO of Engineers and Planners, for donating 200 life jackets shortly after the incident.
Rev. Ntoso renewed her appeal for more safety equipment for communities along the Volta Lake.
She stressed that many residents depend solely on water transport for education, healthcare, and economic activities.
“The supply we currently have is woefully inadequate. Equipping our people with proper safety gear will go a long way in saving lives,” she emphasized.
She appealed to government agencies, NGOs, corporate bodies, and individuals to support island communities with life jackets and safety training.
The MP urged boat operators and passengers to strictly observe safety regulations to prevent future disasters, adding that building a culture of safety on Ghana’s waterways is essential to preventing avoidable deaths.
“No life should be lost again because of non-compliance with basic safety rules,” she stressed.
Contributing to the statement, MP for Kpandai, Martin Nyindam, described water transport on rivers and lakes as an important means of movement in many parts of the world, where it is developed and reliable. However, he said that in Ghana, such systems are often taken for granted and poorly managed.
Hon. Nyindam lamented the lack of basic safety facilities on boats, especially life jackets on the Volta Lake. He stressed that there was no justification for the continued absence of such essential equipment, which has led to repeated loss of lives and property.
He called on duty bearers, particularly the Ministry of Transport and relevant agencies, to take decisive action to end safety compromises on water transport. He urged authorities to draw clear lines and ensure that such preventable accidents become a thing of the past.
The Member of Parliament for Buem, Hon. Kofi Adams, also stressed the need to formalise Ghana’s water transport system, especially on the Volta Lake. He observed that similar accidents continue to occur, with little lasting action taken afterwards.
He noted that water transport is among the safest means of travel in many countries, but the situation in Ghana is different due to poor maintenance, outdated boats, and unsafe waterways.
Hon. Adams called for regular inspection and certification of boats, similar to vehicle roadworthiness checks. He also advocated for enforcement systems at riverbanks and the establishment of water patrol units.
He questioned the absence of tracking and weather-monitoring systems for boats, stressing that such measures are common in aviation and could improve safety on lakes and rivers.
He commended government efforts to construct bridges over major water bodies, describing them as positive steps that should be complemented with improvements in water transport regulation.