Ghana Maritime Authority urges compliance after fatal Savannah Region boat disaster

The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has bemoaned the widespread disregard for safety regulations following a boat accident on the Volta Lake in the Savannah Region that claimed several lives on Wednesday.

The incident occurred between Sikakope and Mataiko villages during a journey from Yeji to Congo and involved 14 passengers. Preliminary reports suggest the boat encountered severe weather conditions and capsized at about 5:30 pm.

According to the GMA, five men were rescued while nine passengers are feared dead and by Thursday, April 9, seven bodies had been recovered, including two females and five children, with search teams from the Ghana Navy and GMA still working to locate a woman and a child.

The Authority indicated that none of the passengers was wearing life jackets at the time of the accident, a violation it described as a major factor in the loss of life.

It reminded boat operators and the public that wearing life jackets is a mandatory legal requirement for all waterborne travel and pledged to intensify inspections and enforcement to prevent similar disasters.

“The blatant disregard for fundamental maritime safety regulations cannot continue,” the Authority stressed, adding that it will work closely with local authorities to conclude search operations and conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The GMA extended condolences to the bereaved families but emphasized that strict compliance with safety rules is the only way to protect lives on Ghana’s inland waters.