Boat Tragedy At Krachi West MP Helen Ntoso Raises Safety Concerns In Parliament, Calls For Stricter Enforcement

The Member of Parliament for Krachi West Constituency, Hon. Helen Adjoa Ntoso, has raised concerns in Parliament over the recent boat accident that occurred in the area.

Addressing the House, Hon. Ntoso disclosed that the boat, which was carrying more than twenty passengers, was travelling from Okuman to Damomen to attend the funeral of a loved one when it capsized. Preliminary reports suggest that overloading and poor safety measures may have contributed to the tragic incident.

She described the incident as heartbreaking, noting that it has plunged families and the entire community into mourning.

She extended her condolences to the bereaved families and all those affected by the irreparable loss.

According to the MP, the only survivors of the accident are a young woman and her baby.

The woman, from a family of nine, tragically lost both her parents and siblings in the disaster.

The Ghana Maritime Authority has since launched an investigation into the incident.

The government has also provided support to the affected families, including assistance with funeral expenses.

The Vice President, Her Excellency Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman, expressed her heartfelt condolences to the families and donated life jackets to support safety efforts in the community.

Additionally, the CEO of Engineers and Planners, Ghanaian businessman and philanthropist Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, donated 200 life jackets following the incident.

Hon. Helen Adjoa Ntoso further commended the Oti Regional Minister, the Director-General of NADMO, the Minister for Transport, staff of the Ghana Maritime Authority, and all security agencies for their swift response to the tragedy.

She noted that the painful incident serves as another reminder of the urgent need to strictly enforce safety regulations on the country’s waterways.

She stressed the importance of preventing boat overloading, ensuring that operators are properly trained and licensed, and making it mandatory for every passenger to wear a life jacket before boarding.

In this regard, Hon. Helen Adjoa Ntoso appealed to the government, corporate organisations, benevolent individuals, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to come to the aid of the people of Krachi West by donating more life jackets to island communities and other settlements along the riverbanks.

She explained that water transport remains the only means of transportation for many communities in the constituency, as a significant portion of Krachi West lies along the Volta Lake.

She emphasized that the current supply of life jackets is woefully inadequate, despite the heavy reliance on the lake for transportation, trade, and access to education and healthcare services.

Hon. Ntoso therefore called for urgent support to equip residents with the necessary safety gear to help prevent future tragedies on the waterways.

End.