Rescue efforts continue in a desperate search for one person still missing after a tragic boat accident near Kete Krachi in the Oti Region on Saturday, October 11, 2025. The overloaded boat, carrying 20 passengers, capsized while crossing a treacherous section of the Volta Lake, turning a routine journey into a heartbreaking disaster.
According to the Ghana Maritime Authority, the bodies of fifteen victims—among them eleven children aged between two and fourteen—have been recovered. The passengers were returning from a funeral, a somber gathering that ended in unimaginable loss. Four adults were also among the deceased, while four fortunate survivors escaped the tragedy.
Speaking on GHOne TV’s GHToday programme, Oti Regional Minister John Kwadwo Gyapong shared the grim details. “There were about 20 people on the boat—11 children and 9 men. Fifteen have been declared dead, four survived, and one remains missing,” he said solemnly. “They were heading to a funeral in Bovime, joining family from Okuma to pay their respects.”
The Regional Minister did not hold back his frustration over the ongoing refusal to wear life jackets despite repeated education and distribution efforts. “We have done extensive education in the area, and life jackets have been provided,” he explained. “But when heavy rains flood the region and the water rises, these tragedies occur because people refuse to use the safety equipment.”
He lamented the careless disregard for life-saving gear: “It’s sad to see that life jackets are picked up but often just stored away instead of being worn. This careless behavior puts lives at risk.”
As the community mourns, authorities vow to intensify safety measures and enforce strict use of life jackets to prevent future tragedies on the Volta Lake.
Story By: Elikplim Awuku
