The Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Kamal-Deen Ali, has attributed the persistent occurrence of fatal boat accidents in Ghana to poor safety practices and weak compliance with regulations on the country’s waterways.
Speaking on The Pulse on Thursday, April 10, Dr Ali described the situation as unacceptable, stressing that adherence to basic safety measures—particularly the consistent use of life jackets—is critical to reducing deaths associated with boat accidents.
According to him, although the Authority has intensified enforcement of safety regulations, including making life jackets mandatory on all vessels, many passengers continue to disregard these requirements. He noted that this behaviour reflects a broader national challenge with safety culture, where individuals often fail to take personal responsibility for their own protection.
Dr Ali explained that enforcement alone cannot solve the problem, as it is impractical to deploy enough personnel to monitor every boat operating across Ghana’s extensive inland and coastal waterways. He emphasised the need for a combination of enforcement, public education, and voluntary compliance to ensure safety standards are upheld.
He further drew parallels with road safety, citing the widespread neglect of seatbelt use among motorists—even in major cities—as an indication of the country’s broader safety challenges.
His comments come in the wake of a tragic boat accident on the Volta Lake on April 9, 2026, which has renewed concerns about safety compliance on Ghana’s waterways. The boat, travelling from Yeji to Congo in the East Gonja District, capsized during a storm between Sikakope and Mataiko.
Seven people—two women and five children—were confirmed dead, while five others were rescued and taken for medical treatment. Two additional passengers, a woman and a child, remain missing as search efforts continue. Preliminary investigations indicate that while adverse weather conditions contributed to the incident, failure to observe safety measures, particularly the wearing of life jackets, also played a significant role.
The National Disaster Management Organisation, in collaboration with local rescue teams, continues search and recovery operations, while providing support to affected families.
Dr Ali revealed that new measures are being introduced to strengthen enforcement and improve safety awareness as authorities work to prevent similar tragedies in the future. He reiterated the need for a shift in public attitude towards safety, insisting that saving lives on Ghana’s waterways depends not only on regulation but also on individual responsibility.
