ACCRA, Ghana, October 13, 2025: At least 15 people, including 11 children, have died after a boat capsized on Lake Volta in northeastern Ghana over the weekend, according to the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA). The vessel was reportedly transporting passengers between the lakeside communities of Okuma and Bovime in the Krachi West District of the Oti Region.
Ghanaian authorities confirmed that the children killed were aged between 2 and 14. The remaining victims were four adults. Four other passengers survived the incident and were rescued by local response teams. The accident took place on Saturday and was publicly confirmed by the GMA in a statement released on Sunday.
The vessel, described as a local wooden canoe, was carrying more passengers than permitted, according to preliminary findings by the GMA. Officials said the overcrowding was likely a key factor in the vessel’s instability. The GMA has deployed a team of maritime inspectors and naval personnel to the area to conduct a full investigation into the cause of the incident.
Emergency responders and local residents participated in the search and recovery operations on Lake Volta, one of the world’s largest man-made reservoirs. Authorities reported that the recovery of the deceased was completed by Sunday morning. Medical officials at the Krachi West District Hospital confirmed that survivors were treated and discharged after receiving emergency care.
Investigation team dispatched to Lake Volta
The Ghana Maritime Authority stated that it is forming a high-level investigative committee in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport. The purpose of the committee will be to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the capsizing and to review safety lapses, if any, on the part of the vessel operators.
As part of its response, the GMA announced that it will immediately commence a lakeside safety enforcement campaign in the region. The operation will focus on enforcing existing regulations regarding passenger limits and the mandatory use of life jackets on all water transport vessels. The authority also confirmed that it will conduct safety education for boat operators and passengers in nearby communities.
Lake Volta, spanning over 8,500 square kilometers, is a major transportation route in Ghana, especially for remote communities with limited road access. However, incidents of boat accidents have been frequently reported, often linked to overloading, poor maintenance, or the absence of safety gear such as life vests.
Age breakdown of child victims revealed
In August 2025, six people died in a similar boating accident on the same lake. In another incident in May 2023, at least 18 people were killed when a vessel struck a submerged tree stump. The recurrence of such tragedies has prompted renewed concern over the enforcement of maritime safety protocols across inland waterways in Ghana.
Officials have urged the public to cooperate with safety regulations and to report any instances of non-compliance by transport operators. The GMA reiterated that adherence to basic safety measures, including the use of life jackets and observing weight restrictions, remains essential to preventing loss of life on the country’s lakes and rivers.
The bodies of the deceased have been handed over to their families for burial, and local authorities in Krachi West have extended their condolences to the bereaved. The GMA stated that findings from the ongoing investigation will be made public once the committee concludes its review. – By Content Syndication Services.