By Laudia Sawer
Tema, Oct. 14, GNA – The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has called for a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the boat accident on the Volta Lake near Kete Krachi.
The IEAG, in a statement signed by Mr. Samson Asaki Awingobit, its Executive Secretary, stated that it received with deep sorrow the tragic news of the boat accident on the Volta Lake near Kete Krachi, which claimed the lives of 15 individuals, including 11 children aged between two and 14 years.
The association extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Kete Krachi community, and all who have been affected by the heartbreaking incident, noting that the psychological trauma and irreplaceable loss suffered by these families were beyond measure.
It added that while the association commended the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) for its swift response and planned interventions, it demands a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the disaster.
“Reports suggesting that the boat was grossly overloaded are alarming and raise serious questions about the level of oversight and enforcement by agencies mandated to ensure safety on Ghana’s inland waterways. We therefore call on the authorities to ensure that accountability does not end with the boat operators alone but extends to any officers of the Ghana Maritime Authority, the local assemblies, and other state agencies whose negligence, inaction, or regulatory failure may have contributed to this tragedy.”
It noted with great concern the increasing frequency of such preventable deaths on the Volta Lake and other inland water bodies, recalling that in August of this year, several people reportedly lost their lives in a similar accident in Ada, and a few months earlier, five people drowned at Dambai under comparable circumstances.
“Over the past two years, Ghana has recorded multiple fatal incidents on the Volta Lake and the Ada estuary, a worrying trend that has now become a national safety crisis demanding urgent attention.”
It noted that these repeated tragedies not only cost lives but also have serious effects on the economy and the livelihoods of communities that rely on lake transportation and fishing, emphasising that the Volta Lake is an important route for trade and tourism, helping to move goods and people between different regions.
“The continuous loss of lives, coupled with the erosion of public confidence in water transport, threatens not only social stability but also trade, commerce, and tourism, sectors that are vital to the nation’s economic growth. It is therefore time for pragmatic, coordinated, and sustained measures to be implemented by the state and relevant stakeholders to bring sanity to Ghana’s inland water transport system.”
These measures, it noted, should include stricter safety regulations, routine inspections, mandatory use of life jackets, proper licensing of boat operators, and severe sanctions for violations.
“The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana stand ready to support any national efforts aimed at improving safety and compliance within the maritime transport sector, as the safety of every Ghanaian, whether by land or water, must be treated as a matter of national priority.”
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade