The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has confirmed that 15 people, including 11 children, have died in a tragic boat accident on the Volta Lake near Kete Krachi in the Oti Region.
According to an official statement issued by the Authority on Sunday, the disaster occurred on Saturday, October 11, when a grossly overloaded wooden boat capsized mid-journey, plunging dozens of passengers into the lake’s turbulent waters. Four people survived the accident.
The GMA described the incident as “devastating” and extended its “deepest, most heartfelt condolences” to the bereaved families and the entire Kete Krachi community, calling the loss of so many young lives “an unimaginable tragedy.”
11 children lost
Preliminary reports indicate that 11 of the victims were children aged between two and 14 years, while the remaining four were adults.
Eyewitnesses said the boat, which was ferrying passengers and goods across the lake, had shown visible signs of overloading before departure but operators ignored warnings.
Local rescue teams, assisted by community volunteers, recovered the bodies hours after the accident. Survivors were taken to nearby health facilities for treatment and observation.
GMA launches investigation and crackdown
In response to the tragedy, the Ghana Maritime Authority has announced a series of decisive actions aimed at uncovering the causes of the accident and preventing future occurrences.
A specialised investigation team, comprising maritime inspectors and personnel from the Navy Task Force, has been dispatched to the site to determine the circumstances that led to the capsizing and to ensure that those responsible are held fully accountable.
Additionally, the GMA will work with the Ministry of Transport to establish a High-Level Casualty Investigations Committee, tasked with recommending urgent policy and operational changes to improve inland water transport safety.
The Authority has also launched a sustained lakeside enforcement operation to curb safety violations.
Under the directive, overloaded boats and non-compliant operators will be seized and prosecuted in accordance with maritime safety laws.
Citizens urged to act responsibly
In a passionate appeal to the public, the GMA urged all passengers and community members living around the Volta Lake to exercise vigilance and prioritize safety over convenience.
“Do not board any boat that is visibly overloaded or lacks lifejackets,” the statement emphasized. “Your refusal could save a life — especially a child’s.”
The Authority reiterated its commitment to ensuring safer water transport and preventing avoidable tragedies on Ghana’s lakes and rivers, stressing that the enforcement drive would continue indefinitely.
A recurring safety challenge
The Volta Lake — Ghana’s largest inland waterway — has been the site of several fatal boat accidents over the years, often linked to overloading, poor vessel maintenance, and lack of lifejackets.
Despite repeated safety campaigns, many operators continue to flout regulations, particularly in remote communities where enforcement remains weak.
This latest disaster has once again thrown the spotlight on the urgent need for strict adherence to safety protocols, improved operator training, and consistent monitoring of passenger vessels.
As the GMA intensifies its investigations, families in Kete Krachi and surrounding areas are mourning the loss of their loved ones — a somber reminder that safety lapses on Ghana’s waterways continue to claim innocent lives, most tragically, its children.
