For a man to lose three wives and five children in the latest Volta Lake tragedy last week, the mental agony he should be enduring at this time can only be imagined.
The inflicted pain can be likened to what Chicago Attorney Horatio Spafford endured when in 1871 he lost his son to scarlet fever and in 1874 lost his four daughters in a trans-Atlantic shipwreck. His faith was unshakeable as he composed the classic hymn ‘It Is Well With My Soul’ to reflect his belief in the sovereignty and authority of God.
God, the Omnipotent and Omniscient, has endowed us with knowledge and resources to manage our affairs in a manner which ensures we live safely and comfortably.
When those entrusted with the authority to manage our affairs derelict their assigned public duties leading to avoidable accidents, such persons deserve condemnation from us.
Fatal accidents on the Volta Lake have been with us for a long time yet they continue to recur as if nobody is in charge.
The Ghana Maritime Authority is yet to respond productively to the recurring accidents besides the issuance of press releases when they occur.
With the absence of strict enforcement of safety measures on the Volta Lake, the end of fatal accidents on the body of water would unfortunately remain a feature of maritime transport here until this shortcoming is addressed.
Last week’s tragedy was the umpteenth and like the previous ones before it, overloading of the boat and the non-use of lifejackets were initial factors accounting for the fatalities.
As we await the report of the investigation into the incident, we wonder whether there would be any reason besides the foregone.
The last recorded boat accident on the Volta Lake took place on October 11, 2025 in which nine persons lost their lives. As has always been the case, the cause of the accident was overloading and the non-use of lifejacket.
That too attracted a commentary from us, but as we expected, nothing besides the publicised promise of investigation happened. Had there been any positive reaction from the relevant authorities, we would not have to return to the same subject in less than a year.
If only investigations would follow such accidents without the application of recommendation, which of course are about enforcing safety measures such as constant policing of the river to ensure that overloading is avoided and lifejackets worn, we are afraid we shall return to repeated narrations of capsized boats and accompanying grieves.
In our previous commentaries, we called for the engagement of the Navy or even the Marine Police to enforce the safety measures.
The recommendations fell on deaf ears because as usual, logistical challenges are preventing the authorities from acting.
We are fed up with the usual mourning with the bereaved families by the authorities each time such mishaps occur. The best thing to do would be robust application of the safety measures to obviate future recurrence.
It would be a step in the right direction if the assemblies along the stretch of the lake undertake joint education with the Ghana Maritime Authority on the importance of lifejackets and the avoidance of overloading. At the end of such education, those who violate same should be prosecuted.
The vulnerable who usually die through such accidents, innocent as they are, should be protected against the irresponsible conduct of adults who man the boats.
Our condolences go to the bereaved families, especially the man who lost three wives and five children. Poor women and kids. They died from the irresponsible dereliction of duty of persons employed to ensure that the Volta Lake is safe for transportation.