The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has confirmed a tragic boat accident on the Volta Lake near Kete Krachi in the Oti Region, which resulted in the death of 15 people, including 11 children. The disaster occurred on Saturday, October 11, 2025, around 1:30 PM, when a small passenger boat capsized while returning from a funeral at Okuma to Bovime in the Krachi West District.
According to an official statement released by the GMA on Sunday, October 12, preliminary investigations revealed that the boat was grossly overloaded, far exceeding its safe operational capacity.
The fatal boat accident claimed the lives of 11 children aged between 2 and 14 years — five boys and six girls — and four adults, comprising three women and one man aged between 18 and 64.
Four other passengers on board managed to survive the tragic incident.
The bodies of 12 victims have been deposited at the Kete Krachi and Worawora Government Hospital mortuaries, while three children have already been buried according to local customs.
GMA Describes Incident as “Unacceptable Breach of Safety Standards”
In its statement, the Ghana Maritime Authority condemned the incident as a critical and unacceptable breach of safety standards on the country’s inland waterways.
The Authority announced that it has dispatched a specialised investigative team made up of maritime safety inspectors and Navy Task Force personnel from Dambai to the scene. The team’s mandate is to establish the precise cause of the accident, identify any regulatory violations, and ensure accountability under Ghana’s maritime safety laws.
Additionally, the GMA said it will, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, constitute a High-Level Casualty Investigations Committee to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the disaster. The findings are expected to inform urgent safety enforcement measures aimed at preventing future tragedies on Volta Lake and other inland waterways.
GMA to Enforce Strict Safety Rules on Volta Lake
In response to the accident, the GMA has launched an enhanced lakeside safety enforcement operation to ensure that all boat operators comply with national safety regulations.
The operation will focus on:
- Passenger limits and overloading prevention
- Mandatory use of lifejackets
- Verification of valid operational permits
- Prosecution and seizure of boats found to be in violation of maritime safety laws
The Authority cautioned that any boat operator caught breaching safety regulations will face strict legal sanctions, including possible prosecution.
Condolences and Safety Appeal to Communities
The Ghana Maritime Authority expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and the Kete Krachi community, describing the tragedy as a heart-wrenching national loss, especially given the high number of child victims.
“The sheer number of young lives cut short leaves an indelible pain on the heart of the nation,” the Authority noted.
The GMA appealed to residents and community members along the Volta Lake to be vigilant and prioritize safety whenever they travel by water.
“Do not board any boat that is visibly overloaded or lacks lifejackets. Your vigilance and refusal could save lives, especially those of children,” the statement urged.
Commitment to Safer Water Transport in Ghana
The Ghana Maritime Authority reaffirmed its commitment to improving and enforcing safety measures across all inland water transport routes in Ghana. The Authority emphasized that it will remain resolute in uncovering the root causes of the Kete Krachi disaster and implementing stronger preventive systems to ensure that no such tragedy occurs again on Volta Lake.
