Volta lake tragedy: Minority calls for swift action

The Minority Caucus in Parliament is calling on the government to urgently address safety concerns on the Volta Lake, following a tragic boat accident near Kete Krachi on Saturday, October 11, 2025, that claimed 15 lives.

In a press statement issued in Accra on Tuesday, October 21, Ranking Member of the Roads and Transport Committee, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, urged the government to prioritise the Volta Lake Transport Limited project, which was secured with a $150 million loan from the Korean Exim Bank in 2020.

“We demand that the government treat this as a national priority and act immediately to ensure the funds are released for the swift implementation of this critical project,” the statement said.

The Caucus warned that further delays in addressing safety on the lake would amount to a serious neglect of the government’s responsibility to protect the estimated two million Ghanaians who rely on the lake for daily transport and livelihoods.

They also called on the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) to step up its oversight of inland water transport, including strict registration of boats and enforcement of loading limits to prevent overcrowding and accidents.

“The Volta Lake is a vital national resource. We owe it to the memory of those who lost their lives and to the millions who continue to use the lake every day to take urgent steps to improve safety,” the statement added.

The Caucus emphasised that a feasibility study for the project has already been completed by Vision Consult.

With this groundwork in place, they believe the Volta Lake Transport project has the potential to transform the lake into a safe, efficient, and integrated part of Ghana’s national transport system.

They called for immediate and decisive action to prevent further tragedies.