Family of 3, another drown in Volta Lake
Four persons lost their lives when a boat carrying at least 17 people capsized on the Volta Lake on Monday.
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The four included a family of three and one other person who is yet to be identified.
The accident occurred in the night when the boat, meant to carry five people, was moving from Yeji in the Brong Ahafo Region to Makango in the East Gonja District in the Northern Region.
A rescue team managed to rescue 13 people and retrieved two dead bodies on Monday night. Two more bodies were retrieved on Tuesday.
According to the Pru District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr Abraham Bansah, a distress call was sent by the passengers about 9.30 p.m. and personnel from the Ghana Navy had to rush to conduct a rescue operation.
The search operation was still ongoing to either retrieve more dead bodies or survivors at the time of going to press last night.
The incident
Mr Bansah said about 9 p.m. on Monday, the boat went to the dock at Yeji to pick passengers crossing the lake to Makango.
He quoted an eyewitness as saying that water began to flow into the boat in the middle of the journey, compelling the passengers to move helter-skelter, resulting in the boat overturning.
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Mr Bansah told the Daily Graphic on phone from Yeji that Naval personnel were able to rescue the 13 survivors on Monday night, in addition to retrieving two bodies, while the other two bodies were retrieved about 10:50 a.m. on Tuesday.
He stated that although an eyewitness informed the police that the boat had been carrying 15 passengers, the number of passengers rescued and the bodies retrieved currently totalled 17.
“The search operation will, therefore, continue to see whether we can still find survivors or more bodies,” he stated.
Writer’s email: emmanuel.gyamerah@graphic.com.gh/nanadu63@gmail.com