Some Members of Parliament have raised concerns over what they describe as inadequate safety measures by the Ministry of Transport and the Volta Lake Transport Company for commuters on the Volta Lake.
The concerns follow a tragic incident in October 2025 which claimed the lives of 16 people after a boat capsized on the lake.
Contributing to a statement on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, February 11, the lawmakers urged the government to enforce stricter safety standards on the country’s inland waterways to prevent similar tragedies.
The Member of Parliament for Krachi West, Helen Ntoso, described the incident as a painful reminder of the urgent need to strengthen safety enforcement on the lake.
“Mr Speaker, this painful tragedy serves as yet another reminder of the urgent need to enforce strict safety standards on our waterways. We must ensure that boats are not overloaded, that operators are properly trained and licensed, and that every passenger wears a life jacket before boarding,” she said.
She appealed to the government, corporate organisations, NGOs and benevolent individuals to support island communities in Krachi West with life jackets, noting that the current supply is inadequate.
“Many of my constituents rely on the Volta Lake for daily transportation, trade and access to education and healthcare facilities. Equipping them with proper safety gear will go a long way in saving lives,” she added.
The MP for Kpandai, Mathew Nyindam, also called for increased oversight and support for private boat operators who dominate transportation on the lake.
“I want to urge the Ministry of Transport and the Volta Lake Authority to take much more interest. The attention we give to these commuters is very poor,” he said.
He noted that while many boats operating on the lake are privately owned, the government must still play a role in ensuring safety compliance, particularly with the provision and enforcement of life jacket use.
“Most of the people who use the lake do not wear life jackets. Some do not even have them at all. The Ministry of Transport should come before this House and tell us how best they can support these private boat owners to provide life jackets, if possible, free of charge, and also put in place proper monitoring measures,” he stated.
The MPs stressed that, beyond sympathising with affected families, concrete steps must be taken to improve regulation, monitoring and enforcement on the Volta Lake to safeguard lives.
