The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has condemned a viral video showing an overcrowded boat on Lake Volta, where passengers were not wearing life jackets. This incident highlights ongoing safety compliance issues that threaten the progress made through state investments aimed at reducing waterway accidents. The GMA emphasized that such negligence could reverse safety advancements, recalling a recent tragedy in which seven schoolchildren drowned.
In a statement, Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, the GMA’s Director-General, expressed concern over the public’s persistent disregard for safety protocols, despite ongoing education campaigns promoting life jacket use and adherence to load limits. The Authority has taken steps to improve safety, including distributing life jackets in affected communities and conducting technical inspections to prevent overloading. However, public compliance remains inconsistent.
The GMA noted that behavioral resistance to safety measures often stems from cultural attitudes and economic pressures in remote areas. They stressed the need for operators to enforce load limits and for passengers to demand safety equipment. Without a collective commitment to safety, the goal of eliminating preventable accidents will remain out of reach.
Additionally, the GMA is undertaking structural improvements, such as removing over 20,000 submerged tree stumps from key routes on Lake Volta, and enhancing search and rescue capabilities with the MV Nene Azumah Matey Korley vessel. While infrastructure upgrades are vital, success hinges on changing community attitudes toward safety.
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