Kete Krachi boat disaster: Ghana lacks proper system of accountability – Nana Yaw Akwada

The Executive Director of the Bureau of Public Safety, Dr. Nana Yaw Akwada, has expressed concern over Ghana’s failure to protect vulnerable citizens, following the tragic boat disaster on the Volta Lake at Kete Krachi that claimed 15 lives, including 11 children.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Monday, October 13, Dr. Akwada said the incident exposes the absence of a functioning accountability system in the country, where negligence leading to loss of lives often goes unpunished.

“As we speak now, as a country, we have not been able to protect the lives of the vulnerable in society. We are looking at an 11-year-old who has passed on because of someone’s negligence. Where is our system of accountability?” he asked.

He criticised the repetitive pattern of official rhetoric that follows such tragedies without concrete action or accountability.

“We lack a proper system of accountability, so when such things happen, all we get from authorities is rhetoric. Nobody gets held responsible for anything,” he stated.

Dr. Akwada also questioned why, in 2025, authorities still struggle to monitor and regulate communities living along the Volta Lake and other inland waterways.

Calling for firm leadership, Dr. Akwada urged the Minister of Transport to take responsibility and provide answers on measures being taken to improve transport safety on Ghana’s waters.

He further called for a chain of accountability from the Transport Ministry through the Ghana Maritime Authority, District Chief Executives (DCEs), and local community representatives, including NADMO, to ensure proper oversight and safety on inland waterways.

“I will first of all go for the head of the Minister of Transport. He should be answering why he has been in office all these months and we have not seen anything regarding transport safety on our waters,” he said.

Meanwhile, authorities, including the Ghana Maritime Authority and the Ghana Navy, have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the accident.

The Ghana Maritime Authority has also reiterated the urgent need for stronger enforcement powers to ensure compliance with safety standards on the country’s water bodies.

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