Volta Lake Disaster Claims 7 Lives, 2 Missing

A devastating boat accident on the Volta Lake has claimed at least seven lives, with two more persons still unaccounted for following the capsizing of a passenger vessel in the Savannah Region.

According to a statement issued by the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), the incident occurred on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in the Gonja East District, between Sikakope and Mataiko, as the boat travelled from Yeji to Congo.

Preliminary reports indicate that the vessel, carrying 14 passengers, ran into severe weather conditions at about 5:30 p.m., leading to its capsizing.

Rescue efforts mounted by local authorities and community members led to the survival of five male passengers. However, nine others were feared drowned.

As of Thursday, April 9, seven bodies comprising two women and five children had been retrieved from the lake. A joint team of divers and emergency personnel from the Ghana Navy and the GMA is continuing search operations for the remaining two victims, identified as a woman and a child.

The Maritime Authority described the incident as tragic and extended its condolences to the bereaved families.

The GMA further expressed grave concern over what it described as a blatant violation of basic safety regulations, revealing that none of the passengers aboard the ill fated boat was wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident.

The Authority noted that the absence of life saving equipment significantly contributed to the high death toll, reiterating calls for strict adherence to maritime safety protocols, particularly on inland waterways such as the Volta Lake.

The incident adds to growing concerns over safety compliance in Ghana’s inland water transport sector, where enforcement of regulations remains inconsistent despite recurring fatal accidents.

 

 

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