The tough stance follows the recent tragic boat disaster on the Volta Lake that claimed the lives of 16 people.

In an exclusive interview on JoyNews, Mr Nikpe detailed new measures being implemented, including the strategic deployment of a newly acquired search and rescue vessel and the establishment of dedicated safety oversight offices.

The minister’s comments underscore the government’s recognition that, historically, operators have enjoyed impunity after such incidents.

Mr Nikpe confirmed that the government has already bolstered its emergency response capability on the Volta Lake, one of the world’s largest man-made reservoirs and a critical transport route, often fraught with hazards.

“We have stationed a search and rescue vessel. We just acquired it, and it was delivered last month, stationed at Kpando Torkor to be able to rescue should there be any issue of accident,” the Minister revealed.

This new vessel, strategically placed at Kpando Torkor near the lake’s central crossing points, marks a significant investment aimed at cutting down the critical response time to emergencies, which is often cited as a major contributing factor to high casualty counts in past disasters.

To maintain day-to-day oversight, the ministry is establishing new administrative infrastructure.

“We are also creating an office in Akosombo to oversee the day-to-day surveillance on our waters regarding safety.”

The new enforcement regime will be centred on preventing the two most common causes of fatal boat accidents: overloading and the non-use of life jackets. Mr Nikpe outlined the precise checks that the newly deployed safety guards will conduct at major landing sites.

“Now, what our safety guys will do is to ensure that they will look at the capacity of each boat. That is to prevent overloading. And again, when all passengers are on board, they are all supposed to wear life jackets before the boat will be allowed to move.”

The recent disaster that killed 16 people involved a single boat carrying 24 passengers, a figure the Mr cited as evidence of reckless endangerment.

“This particular accident, 24 people in one boat. Definitely something went wrong,” he emphasised, strongly suggesting that the boat’s licensed capacity was dangerously exceeded.

The most significant change is the move toward criminal accountability for boat owners and masters. The Minister noted that past accidents, while tragic, failed to deter reckless practices because of the absence of legal consequences for those responsible.

“We will now begin to prosecute boat owners and operators.”

He sharply criticised the previous reaction to maritime tragedies.

“Over the years, they’ve gotten it free that any accident, we all rush in the Ghanaian way to express our condolences, mourning with them and grieving with them and at the end, the boat masters go scot-free.”

Going forward, a database and clear chain of responsibility will be established to link operators directly to any disaster.

“From now on, our safety guards are at the point of contact to be able to know you owe this boat, you didn’t comply, and this accident has occurred; you will be held responsible.”

Minister Nikpe concluded by urging community involvement, stressing that ensuring safe travel is a collective responsibility involving operators, government agencies, and local leadership.

“We also call on the individuals, the community leaders and other stakeholders to help in this enterprise of ensuring that our people are safe when they are travelling around.”

Source: Myjoyonline

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According to the Krachi West Municipal NADMO Director, Awudu Gariba, the lack of transportation makes it difficult for officers to reach remote island communities, hampering efforts to ensure safety on the lake.

In an interview with Adom News, NADMO officers responsible for lake safety currently struggle to conduct regular monitoring and public education due to mobility challenges.

Mr. Gariba explained that providing logistics would enable officers to visit more fishing communities to educate residents about the importance of wearing life jackets.

So far, about fifteen communities in Krachi have received life jackets, with plans underway to extend the distribution to 42 more island communities.

He commended Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and the government for their swift response following a recent tragedy in which a canoe traveling from Okuma-Akura to Debume Kope capsized, claiming 16 lives, including children.

During her visit to the affected community, the Vice President, together with the Transport Minister and the National NADMO Director, donated about 200 life jackets and other relief items to victims and their families.

Mr. Gariba emphasized that the provision of motorbikes and vehicles would significantly improve NADMO’s ability to monitor compliance and enhance safety along the Volta Lake.

Source: Obrempongba K. Owusu

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Speaking on The Pulse, Mr. Gyapong explained that the passengers were moving from one island to another nearby island when the accident occurred, emphasising that it was not a long-distance journey.

“It is not like they are travelling from Dambai or Krachi; it was from an island to an island. This particular one happened when a family that has an extended family on another island was going for a funeral, and then this thing happened,” he revealed.

The minister further explained that ongoing rehabilitation works on the Akosombo stretch have caused water from the Volta River to spread into several settlement areas, creating new islands across parts of the Oti Region.

“I want everybody to understand that the intervention of the Akosombo Dam that brought a blockage of the Volta River had extended a lot of water to other parts of the land, so for the Volta Lake now, we have a lot of islands, and that is where these things normally happen,” he noted.

Mr Kodzo expressed concern over the rising safety risks posed by the expanding waterways and urged stronger enforcement of maritime safety regulations to prevent future tragedies.

“So the problem is about how to educate these young ones and their family members who are on the islands to go by the rules of the maritime laws,” he stressed.

Source: Albert Kuzor

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Speaking on The Pulse, Mr. Gyapong said that despite several public education efforts and the distribution of hundreds of life jackets, many locals continue to ignore safety guidelines.

“It is very difficult to handle this situation. No matter how we try to enforce the laws, no matter the number of life jackets that we give, they don’t want to use them. It is not like we haven’t given them life jackets; there have been a lot. NADMO brought a lot of life jackets,” he stated.

The minister described the situation as disheartening, especially following the recent boat tragedy near Kete Krachi, which claimed several lives.

He warned that the government would begin strict enforcement of maritime safety laws to prevent further incidents.

“What we are going to do is that anybody who wants to stay on the island should make it a point to have life jackets, and whenever they want to travel, they should put them on. That one we are going to enforce. If we come around and you don’t have a life jacket, and we know that you are from the island, we will have to take you on,” he cautioned.

Mr Kodzo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring safety on the Volta Lake, adding that education and enforcement would be intensified to change public attitudes toward life jacket use.

Source: Myjoyonline

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According to the VRA, some settlements near the Volta Lake are involved in activities that pose risks to the authority’s operations. Consequently, the VRA is calling for closer collaboration with these communities to help mitigate potential hazards.

During the engagement, the Sustainability Manager at VRA, Mr. Hagan Jonathan, appealed to residents who have built structures close to riverbanks to consider relocating. He explained that such developments increase flood risks and hinder efforts to manage water levels safely.

Mr. Jonathan outlined several practical flood prevention measures, including:

• Building homes and infrastructure on higher ground

• Avoiding construction in flood-prone zones

• Implementing effective drainage systems

• Planting trees and maintaining vegetation to prevent soil erosion

He reaffirmed VRA’s commitment to partnering with affected communities to improve safety and resilience.

The District Chief Executive for Kwahu Afram Plains South, Moses Tangmee, commended the VRA for the engagement and its proactive approach to flood management. He noted that such early interventions could save the government substantial costs during future disasters.

Mr. Tangmee further urged the VRA to address the concerns of resettlement communities such as Forifori and Kwame Dwamena, which, he said, have not received compensation like others in neighboring districts.

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The money was spent to remove a total of some 21,265 tree stumps on the waterway.

The project was carried out by the Kete Krachi Timber Recovery (KKTR) Ltd. between 2019 and 2023.

This was contained in the Auditor General’s performance report on the safety of inland water transport on the Volta Lake. The audit was done between January and March 2024.

According to the report, the exercise covered 68 meters high within 300 meters wide from five inland waterways namely Yeji–Mankango, Yeji–Awujakope, Dambai-Njare, Bridge Ano–Ntoaboma Crossing and Agordeke waterways.

A total of 21,268 tree stumps were identified by GMA out of which 21,265 were removed. The remaining three tree stumps on the Yeji–Mankango waterway were not removed due to religious reasons.

On the Yeji-Mankango waterway, some 3,553 pieces of tree stumps were identified, and 3,550 were removed in 2019 at the cost of GH₵9, 587,500 million; in 2020, a total of 4,723 stumps were removed on the Yeji-Awujakope area at the cost of GH₵11,484,306 million.

It also cost GMA GH₵19, 971,372.96 million to remove some 10,499 stumps on the Dambai-Njare stretch of the water in the year 2021.

In the following year (2022), GH₵13,138,488 million was spent to remove some 1,179 pieces of stumps on the Bridge Ano-Notoaboma crossing area.

In 2023, Ghc33, 443,424 million was spent to remove some 1,317 stumps at the Agordeke enclave, the highest amount spent throughout the five-year project.

The project was aimed at reducing waterway accidents on the lake. Mostly, tree stumps are the cause of accidents on the Volta Lake.

Over the years, many lives and goods were lost to the lake as a result of accidents while transporting on the water. Bad weather conditions have also caused some of these accidents.

Meanwhile, the Auditor General concluded the audit by identifying that “GMA had not removed tree stumps impeding safety of navigation on the inland waterways; hence commuters are at risk of losing their lives or goods from tree stumps yet to be removed”.

On recommendation, the Auditor General said, “We recommend that GMA should expedite the assessment of the Volta Lake and take steps to ensure the removal of tree stumps in the waterways to improve the safety of navigation”.

Many commuters remain vulnerable to using traditional watercraft on the Volta Lake due to the existence of tree stumps in some areas, and the lack of technology for accurate navigation.

Source: Albert Kuzor

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Mpraeso Member of Parliament (MP), Davis Opoku Ansah, disclosed this on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday.

This flooding is as a result of the Volta Lake breaking its banks, which displaced 2,500 residents from nine communities in the Pru East District.

Speaking on the extent of damage, the MP disclosed that about 43 acres of onion farmlands have been completely destroyed.

He said the affected areas include Adawso, Asuboni, Ketepa, Jerusalem, and its environs.

OPK, as he is popularly known, stated that, he has taken steps to support to the victims in his own small way since relief items have not been forthcoming.

He has appealed to all Ghanaians especially Kwahu natives to come to the aid of his constituents.

“The area which connects to the Afram Plains is the food basket and so we should help the people get back on their feet,” OPK appealed.

The Volta River Authority (VRA) commenced controlled spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams on September 15, 2023, due to a consistent rise in the inflow pattern and water level of the Akosombo reservoir.

Figures from NADMO and VRA indicate that, about 30,000 people have been displaced following the spillage of the Akosombo dam in various communities in the Volta and Eastern regions.

Thousands of residents in South Tongu, North Tongu, Central Tongu, Asuogyaman, and several other areas have submerged homes due to the spillage.

Benevolent organisations and individuals have since donated some relief items to the victims to ensure their plights are ameliorated.

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The victims comprise 1,302 males and 1,252 females, according to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

Communities affected are Kobre Nsuano, Pentecost Nsuano, Adiembra, Fanteakura, Tokobikope, Tonka, Agokope, Logakope and others.

The Pru East District NADMO Director, Fredrick Ndila Ntana, said in a media interview that the victims have been relocated to higher grounds.

“So far we have about over nine communities which are affected by the floods. These are Fanteakura, Birikente, Tokobikope, Accra Town, Kobre Nsuano, Who Are You, and many others.”

“And so now we have about 2554 people displaced and these are the breakdown. The males are 1,302 and the females are 1,252…we have relocated them to the highest grounds,” he said.

It will also be recalled that over 26,000 people have been displaced following the spillage of the Akosombo dam in various communities in the Volta and Eastern regions.

The Volta River Authority (VRA) commenced controlled spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams on September 15, 2023, due to a consistent rise in the inflow pattern and water level of the Akosombo reservoir.

Thousands of residents in South Tongu, North Tongu, Central Tongu, Asuogyaman, and several other areas have had homes submerged due to the spillage.

Meanwhile, benevolent organisations and individuals have donated some relief items to the victims to ensure their plights are ameliorated.

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Five persons have been reported dead after a boat carrying mourners capsized on the Volta Lake in the Volta Region.

Reports indicate the boat was transporting the mourners from Azizanya to Azizakpe.

The victims are said to include two women and three children.

The Assembly member of Azizakpe Electoral Area, Daniel Adzakpa, who confirmed the disaster to Accra-based TV3, blamed it on overloading.

Mr Adzakpa noted his checks have revealed there were 25 persons on board but suspects they were more than that.

He noted the deceased were part of about 15 persons who were rescued with efforts underway to get more people out.

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The Assembly member indicated most of the boat owners also do not have life jackets, adding those who have them are also inadequate for occupants who usually board the boat.

The eight were among 20 pupils who were travelling from Atikagome to Wayokope when the incident occurred midway into the journey.

The Sene East Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Ibrahim Wudonyim, speaking to Citi News on the incident said the information about the tragedy came to them late.

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Mr Wudonyim said the incident happened in a small fishing community where the only school in the area is located.

The joint operation rescued four adult men and five boys from exploitation on the portion of the Volta Lake at Yeji.

Two of the four adult victims were trafficked 20 years ago and were said to have been brought to work on the lake at ages three and five respectively and the youngest of the five boys arrived less than a year ago.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tema after the rescue mission, Mr Kojo Owiredu Kissi, Coordinator, Media and Communications, International Justice Mission (IJM), an anti-human trafficking not-for-profit organization in Ghana, said an operation by the two institutions led to the rescue of the victims at Yeji.

He indicated that the rescue process was owned and led by government partners from the Ghana Police Service and Department of Social Welfare with technical and logistical support from IJM Ghana.

Mr Kissi expressed heartfelt gratitude to the two institutions for their dedication and unflinching support towards ending human trafficking on the Volta Lake, adding that, “they must be commended because this rescue was successful due to their dedication and collaborative efforts and outstanding work.”

Mr Kissi said six of the victims have been reintegrated and are currently at home with their families where they would be supported to go back to school or undertake vocational skills while three of them were in a shelter home.

He noted that the master, now a suspect, recruited the young children to work on the Lake for fishing.

Mr Kissi said the suspect controlled every aspect of the lives of the children adding that they were not allowed to play or associate with anybody outside of the suspect’s family and would be punished violently if they did.

He said anyone outside of the suspect’s family who tried to interact with the children would also be subject to violence, “if the children begin to develop relations with neighbours, they would be sent to more remote islands to ensure their isolation.”

Mr Kissi stated that the only movement the children were allowed to engage in was between the suspect’s house and his boat, noting that they were responsible both for housework and fishing on the lake.

He said the victims were identified to have been trafficked from the Volta and Bono Regions.

The trained lifeguards, drawn from about nine regions in the country, comprising both males and females will be deployed to save lives on Ghana’s water bodies.

The Basic Water Safety and Life Guard Training Course were made possible under the Volta Lake Transport Safety Project (VLTSP), a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Ministry of Transport and Ecozoil, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC).

The course was undertaken in two parts with the first part commencing on February 11, this year, which lasted for six weeks.

In a welcome address, the Flight Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Commodore Emmanuel Ayensu Kwafo, while commending the leadership of the Leadership Training School, ENC praised the trainees for their endurance.

He said the participants were trained in firefighting tactics, confidence jump and survival at sea, and endurance on water to save lives and property among others.

The objective of this training, he said, is to help avert accidents on the Volta Lake and other water bodies.

“This is not the first time Ecozoil is embarking on such a project. It happened some 10-11 years ago”, adding that the Ghana Navy has also been supporting in saving lives on Ghana’s water bodies.

Lifeguard Operative, Prosper Kofi Abochie, was adjudged the Overall Best Trainee, and also received a Special Certificate of Commendation.

Augustina Agyemang was the Best Female Trainee-2nd batch, Nehard Mumuni; Best Make-3rd batch, Ruth Astwei Adjetey; Best Female Trainee-3rd batch, Abubakar Fuseini; Best Male-4th batch, Benedicta Eklu; Best Female- 4th Batch)–all received Special Certificate of Commendation.

Speaking at a colourful passing out ceremony, the Minister of Transport, who was the Guest of Honour; Kwaku Ofori Asiama, congratulated the trainees and urged them to use their training skills acquired to save lives on the Volta Lake and the country’s water bodies

He explained as part of the project, the government will be providing free life jackets to commuters on the Volta Lake, and also help educate residents along the lake.

“This project will also provide jobs to the youth in the coastal areas,” he said.

The Executive Chairman, JGC, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, in a short address, urged the lifeguards to do their best to make water transport safer in the country.

He announced that his outfit will provide three-speed boats to the Ghana Navy to help support the security agency in its naval operations.

The VLTSP, he explained, had become necessary because of the challenges bedevilling transportation on the Volta Lake and other water bodies in the country.

“Transportation on the Volta Lake is plagued with challenges including lack of life jackets for commuters, overloading on boats, and lack of safety education on the lake,” he bemoaned.

According to him, the project seeks to employ the youth from communities along the Volta Lake and equip them with basic skills in water survival and rescue operations to ensure safety of commuters on the lake.

“In addition, it helps to maintain cleanliness at the various landing sites, provide safety education to both boat operators and commuters, provide life jackets to commuters to protect them on the lake,” he added.

Dr Agyepong disclosed that the project covers 40 municipal district assemblies (MDAs).

He, therefore, thanked the Transport Minister for the confidence he reposed in his company which resulted in the renewal of the project.

“I also want to thank the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Isaah Yakubu, the Flight Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command Commodore Emmanuel Ayensu Kwafio, for the training of the lifeguards.

“To the Ecozoil team, let’s work hard to ensure that the project achieves its objectives so it can become a model for other countries in the world to emulate,” he charged the trainees.

On his part, the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Isaah Yakubu, commended Dr Siaw Agyepong for his pledge to support the navy with speed boats.

He encouraged the lifeguards to always have the interest of the country first in the discharge of their duties.

Information gathered suggests that the incident occurred around 10:30 am on Monday, May 3, 2021.

The children, aged five and three are said to have gone to the shore with their 15-year-old sister to wash.

Upon arrival, the children demanded that their sister gives them water to bathe which she did only for them to later go into the river to swim.

An eyewitness spotted them during their first attempt and sacked them from the lake, however, they went back on their sister’s blindside.

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Narrating the incident in an interview with Adom News, the Abusuapanyin, Francis Nsiah said a resident who had come to fetch water found the children in the water.

All attempts to rescue them proved futile as another person almost drowned during the rescue effort.

He explained, however, that the bodies have been retrieved with burial scheduled for not later than tomorrow.