Volta Lake boat disaster claims 10 lives

Disaster struck on the Volta Lake in the Afram Plains area of the Eastern Region last Thursday when a boat carrying an unspecified number of persons capsized, leaving 10 persons feared drowned.

However, multiple sources said the death toll could be 20.

Rescuers, mainly the locals, worked frantically to rescue 17 persons.

As of press time yesterday, one body had been recovered and emergency teams, including local divers, were continuing the search for nine others.

The deceased, whose remains have been deposited at the Presbyterian Hospital morgue at Donkorkrom, has been identified as Adjoa Alihele, 60.

Traders

The boat, which was carryng mostly traders from Dzemeni in the Volta Region, was heading to Donkorkrom in the Afram Plains area of the Eastern Region when it capsized midway through the journey near Anivizi, a village along the Volta Lake.

Overcrowding and poor safety checks have often been the cause of boat accidents on the lake.

The cause of the latest accident is, however, not yet known except for what the local people alleged could be due to the boat sailing in bad weather.

Mourning

The Assembly member for the Anivizi Electoral Area, where the incident occurred, Mr Raphael Kpoho, told the Daily Graphic on phone yesterday that many of the passengers were returning home from the market.

He said the accident had thrown Agalakope, the community where the deceased persons resided, into a state of mourning.

Mr Anivizi called on boat owners to equip passengers with life jackets which could save them during such storms.

He commended the National Disaster Management Organisation( NADMO) for the support extended so far to the bereaved families.

Mr Kpoho said frantic efforts were made to retrieve the other bodies but due to poor visibility, the exercise was suspended until yesterday morning.

Background

The Volta Lake is notorious for boat accidents which have resulted in the loss of many lives over the years.

In May 2016, 16 persons drowned when a boat carrying about 60 people from Nantwekope to Yeji capsized.

The last accident before last Thursday’s occurred on August 3, 2019, when a canoe carrying 10 members of the Assemblies of God Church from Senchi to Old Akrade in the
Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region capsized, leaving four dead.

A key finding of most of the committees of enquiry on accidents on the lake is the poor management of transportation safety on the lake.