By Philip Tengzu, GNA
Wa, (UW/R), Aug. 28, GNA – The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has appealed to district and community-level stakeholders to support efforts to ensure strict adherence to life jacket use and improve safety on the country’s inland waterways.
It observed that Ghana had recorded several boat disasters and deaths over the years, including incidents in the Upper West Region, and stressed the need for concerted efforts to prevent future incidents.
Naval Captain (rtd) Dr Kamal-Deen Ali, Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, made the appeal in Wa during a stakeholders’ engagement on the Life Jackets for Safety and Livelihood Programme (LJSLP).
The engagement brought together stakeholders including Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs), community leaders, canoe operators and owners and Water Safety Guards from the Lawra, Wa West and Nandom Municipalities.
It was aimed at exposing the stakeholders to the LJSLP and mobilising their support in its implementation.
Data from the GMA indicates that nine boat accidents were recorded across the country between 2024 and June 2026, resulting in 42 deaths.
The data shows that the Upper West Region recorded one of the accidents, which claimed seven lives.
The GMA DG said the statistics reinforced the need for the Authority and stakeholders to intensify efforts to make inland water transportation safer.
Dr Ali said as part of efforts to promote safety on inland waterways, the Authority was processing a Legislative Instrument (LI) which would make wearing life jackets compulsory for people travelling on inland water bodies.
He said the proposed LI would also, among other things, regulate the age limits for canoe operators.
Dr Ali said the GMA had, since the current administration took office, introduced several measures to strengthen its capacity to monitor inland water transportation.
These included the establishment of inland water safety offices in strategic locations, including the Blackwater Coordination Office in Wa, and the recruitment, training and deployment of 200 water safety guards.
Dr Ali said the GMA had initiated a “No Life Jacket, No Entry” advocacy campaign to encourage all persons boarding canoes and boats to wear life jackets.
“Whether we are crossing the water for health, for education, for business, unless we have the life jackets, our livelihood will be in danger”, he advised.
He appealed to boat operators, community leaders and the district and municipal assemblies, among others, to take ownership of the programme to ensure its success.
In a presentation on LJSLP, Mr Issah Issahaku, Deputy Director, Public Relations Unit at the GMA, said the GMA would procure and make life jackets available to operators at subsidised prices, with flexible payment arrangements as part of the programme implementation.
He observed that some deaths on the inland waterways could have been prevented if the passengers were wearing life jackets.
The stakeholders at the engagement pledged their commitments to ensuring the successful implementation of the Programme.
Madam Cecilia Soyelleh, MCE for Lawra, said the Assembly would collaborate with the Member of Parliament for the area to procure life jackets for the canoe operators.
Mr Richard Wulo, the Wa West DCE, expressed commitment to intensifying public education and sensitisation on safety measures in travelling on waterways.
Also, Mr Stephen Dongsegmee, a canoe operator from Metor-boo in the Lawra Municipality, said he would mobilise other operators and owners in the area to complement the Assembly in procuring the life jackets.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba
Reporter: Philip Tengzu, GNA
[email protected]