Rev. Hon. Helen Adjoa Ntoso, Member of Parliament for Krachi West Constituency, has addressed Parliament on the tragic boat disaster that occurred on October 11, 2025, at Okumah, an island community on the Volta Lake.
The heartbreaking incident claimed the lives of sixteen (16) people, including eleven (11) children, after a boat carrying over twenty passengers capsized while traveling from Okumah to Debume to attend a funeral.
Preliminary reports indicate that overloading and poor safety practices may have contributed to the tragedy. The disaster has left families devastated and the entire Krachi West community in deep mourning.
In a particularly tragic account, the only survivors were a young woman and her baby. The young woman reportedly lost both her parents and all her siblings in the accident.
The Ghana Maritime Authority has launched investigations into the incident. Government has also provided support to the affected families, including covering funeral expenses.
The Vice President, H.E. Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, visited the community to commiserate with the bereaved families and donated life jackets and relief items to the victims and survivors. Additionally, the CEO of Engineers and Planners, Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, promptly donated 200 life jackets following the incident.
Rev. Ntoso expressed gratitude to the Vice President, Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, the Oti Regional Minister, the Director-General of NADMO, the Minister for Transport, the Ghana Maritime Authority, and the security agencies for their swift response.
However, she stressed that the tragedy highlights the urgent need to strictly enforce safety regulations on Ghana’s waterways. She called for measures to prevent overloading, ensure proper training and licensing of boat operators, and make it mandatory for all passengers to wear life jackets.
The MP further appealed to government, corporate bodies, NGOs, and benevolent individuals to donate more life jackets to island communities and riverbank settlements in Krachi West, where water transport remains the only means of movement for many residents.
She emphasized that many constituents depend on the Volta Lake for transportation, trade, education, and healthcare access, and equipping them with proper safety gear will significantly help prevent future tragedies.
Rev. Ntoso also urged boat operators and passengers to strictly comply with safety protocols to avoid further loss of lives.
“May the souls of the departed rest peacefully in the Lord, and may their families find comfort and strength during this difficult time,” she concluded.
