The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has confirmed a tragic boat accident on the Volta Lake near Kete Krachi, which claimed the lives of 15 mourners — including 11 children. The disaster occurred on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at approximately 1:30 PM, as the victims were returning from a funeral at Okuma to Bovime in the Krachi West District of the Oti Region.
In a statement issued on Sunday, October 12, 2025, the GMA described the accident as a result of the boat being “grossly overloaded” beyond its safe operational limit.
Victims and Survivors
According to the Authority, the tragedy claimed the lives of 15 passengers — 11 children aged between 2 and 14 years (five boys and six girls) and four adults (three women and one man) aged between 18 and 64 years. Four other adults survived the accident.
The bodies of 12 victims have been deposited at the Kete Krachi and Worawora Government Hospital mortuaries, while the remaining three children have since been buried by their families.
The GMA described the event as “a critical and unacceptable breach of safety standards,” assuring the public of full transparency and accountability as investigations proceed.
Investigation and Accountability
The Authority has dispatched a specialised investigative team, comprising maritime safety inspectors and Navy Task Force personnel from Dambai, to the accident site. Their task is to determine the exact cause of the incident, identify safety regulation breaches, and ensure that all responsible parties face legal consequences.
In addition, the GMA announced that a High-Level Casualty Investigations Committee will be established in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport to conduct a comprehensive probe. The findings, the Authority said, will inform urgent enforcement actions to prevent future disasters on Ghana’s inland waterways.
Enhanced Safety Enforcement
The GMA is also launching an extensive lakeside safety enforcement campaign aimed at ensuring strict compliance with operational and safety regulations. The initiative will focus on enforcing passenger limits, the mandatory use of lifejackets, and the possession of valid operational permits — particularly for boats operating at night.
Boats found violating safety regulations will be impounded, and their operators prosecuted.
Condolences and Public Advisory
The Ghana Maritime Authority extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and the entire Kete Krachi community, describing the loss — especially of so many young lives — as “a national tragedy that leaves an indelible scar on the heart of the nation.”
Reaffirming its commitment to safe water transport, the Authority urged residents along the Volta Lake to prioritize safety at all times.
“We appeal to every citizen, community elder, and family member living along the lakeshore to act as vigilant custodians of safety — do not board any boat that is visibly overloaded or lacks lifejackets. Your vigilance and refusal could save lives, especially those of children,” the statement read.
The GMA pledged to uncover the root causes of the accident and implement decisive measures to ensure such a tragedy never happens again on the Volta Lake.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem