IEAG demands accountability over Volta Lake boat tragedy
The Exporters and Importers Association of Ghana (IEAG) has described the recent Volta Lake boat tragedy, which claimed 15 lives including 11 children, as heartbreaking and avoidable.
Samson Asaki Awingobit, Executive Secretary of the IEAG, in a statement, called for urgent accountability and remedial action following the incident.
While commending the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) for its swift response and planned interventions, the IEAG stressed the need for a thorough, transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances of the accident.
The Association expressed deep concern over reports that the boat was grossly overloaded, raising serious questions about oversight and enforcement by agencies responsible for safety on Ghana’s inland waterways.
“The psychological trauma and irreplaceable loss suffered by these families are beyond measure. No amount of compensation or consolation can make up for the lives lost in such an avoidable tragedy,” the IEAG statement said.
“Accountability must not end with the boat operators alone. It must extend to any officers of the Ghana Maritime Authority, the local assemblies and other state agencies whose negligence, inaction or regulatory failure may have contributed to this tragedy,” it stressed.
The Association raised alarm over the rising number of fatal boat accidents on the Volta Lake and other water bodies across Ghana, citing recent deadly incidents in Ada and Dambai with similar causes.
“Over the past two years, Ghana has recorded multiple fatal incidents on the Volta Lake and the Ada estuary. This worrying trend has now become a national safety crisis demanding urgent attention,” the IEAG noted.
Beyond the human toll, the IEAG pointed to the broader economic and social impacts of these accidents. The Volta Lake, a key commercial and tourism corridor linking several regions, faces risks of reduced public confidence in water transport, threatening social stability as well as trade, commerce and tourism sectors vital to Ghana’s economy.
The Association urged the government and relevant authorities to implement pragmatic and coordinated measures to restore safety and confidence in inland water transport.
These should include stricter safety regulations, routine inspections, mandatory life jacket use, proper licensing of boat operators and severe penalties for violations.
“The safety of every Ghanaian, whether by land or water, must be treated as a matter of national priority,” the IEAG added.
