The Oti Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Foster Dzre, has disclosed that an 11-year-old boy was at the helm of the boat that capsized on the Volta Lake near Kete Krachi, resulting in the deaths of 15 people, including 11 children, with one person still missing.
In an interview with JoyNews’ Maame Esi Thompson, Mr. Dzre explained that the vessel involved in the accident was a small fishing boat carrying about 20 passengers who were returning from a funeral. The tragedy occurred midway through the journey when the overloaded boat overturned.
“The boat they used for fishing is not that big, so you can see that most of the people on board were children. Even the person handling the boat was an 11-year-old boy,” he revealed with concern.
According to him, the victims included three adults, aged 58, 48, and 36, while the rest were children aged between two and 14 years.
Lack of Safety Measures
Mr. Dzre lamented the weak enforcement of safety regulations on the Volta Lake, noting that most of the passengers did not have life jackets.
“We provide life jackets to commercial boats, but this particular boat was a private one used mainly for fishing,” he clarified.
He added that all the victims were residents of the Okuma community, and their bodies were identified through a coordinated effort involving NADMO, the Police, and the Ghana Navy, who led the rescue and recovery operations.
Investigation Underway
Following the tragedy, the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) and the Ghana Navy have launched a joint investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.
The GMA has since renewed its call for stronger enforcement powers to ensure full compliance with maritime safety regulations on the country’s waterways.
Mr. Dzre emphasized that stricter regulation and public education are urgently needed to prevent similar avoidable tragedies in the future.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem