A devastating boat accident on Volta Lake near Kete Krachi in the Oti Region claimed the lives of 15 people, including 11 children aged 2 to 14 and four adults, on Saturday, October 11, 2025, the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) confirmed.
The GMA reported that the grossly overloaded boat capsized during a crossing, with only four survivors. Describing the incident as “heartbreaking,” the GMA extended condolences to the bereaved families and Kete Krachi community.
In response, the GMA has deployed a team of Maritime Inspectors and Navy Task Force members to investigate the cause and ensure accountability. A Casualty Investigations Committee, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, will review safety protocols and propose urgent reforms.
The GMA has launched a lakeside safety enforcement operation, targeting overloaded boats and those lacking lifejackets, with seizures and prosecutions for violators. The Authority urged commuters to avoid unsafe vessels, warning, “Do not board any boat that is visibly overloaded or lacks lifejackets. Your refusal could save a life, especially a child’s.”
