Vice Chairperson of Parliament’s Roads and Transport Committee, Andrew Dari Chiwitey, has expressed outrage over the circumstances surrounding the Kete Krachi boat disaster, questioning how a child as young as 11 years old was allowed to operate a boat carrying 14 others.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Monday, the MP described the incident, which claimed 15 lives, including 11 children, as a tragic reflection of Ghana’s weak enforcement of water transport safety standards.
“What happened on the Volta Lake, I’m told, was an 11-year-old child operating the boat … How on earth should we allow an 11-year-old boy to manage the lives of 14 others?” Mr. Chiwitey asked.
His comment comes after the Oti Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Foster Dzre, revealed that an 11-year-old boy was controlling the boat involved in the tragic Kete Krachi accident.
Mr Chiwitey noted that the situation was not an isolated case, recalling similar incidents in other parts of the country that have resulted in the loss of young lives due to the absence of safety regulations and enforcement.
“Just in June, it happened in Lawra. Ten students, after taking their mock exams, decided to cross to the other side, and we lost seven of them. They didn’t have life jackets, and the person operating the boat was also a minor,” he recounted.
Read also: Oti NADMO confirms death of 11-year-old boat operator in Volta Lake tragedy
The legislator said the persistent pattern of preventable water transport accidents underscores the need for nationwide education and stricter enforcement of safety protocols, particularly in communities that rely on boats as their main means of transportation.
“We must intensify public education. A minor cannot operate a boat just as a minor cannot drive a vehicle. Authorities, local assemblies, and community leaders must take this seriously,” he stressed.
Mr. Chiwitey further called for the establishment of a system to ensure that life jackets are available at all major boat landing sites across the country.
“They may not guarantee 100% safety, but they can save lives,” he stressed.
He urged Parliament, local authorities, and the Maritime and NADMO officials to coordinate efforts to enhance water transport safety and prevent further tragedies on the Volta Lake and other inland waterways.
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