Fifteen people, mostly children, died when a boat sank in a lake in northeastern Ghana.
Ghanaian authorities reported that 11 children, aged between two and 14 (five boys and six girls), were among the dead in the accident on Lake Volta in the Oti Region.
A statement issued by the Maritime Authority stated that the children and other victims were traveling from Okuma to Bovime when their boat capsized, noting that four adults survived. The statement added that the incident was a serious and unacceptable violation of safety standards.
The statement noted that a specialized team has been deployed to determine the cause of the sinking, noting that preliminary findings indicate that the boat was overloaded.
The authority confirmed that it will form a high-level investigation committee with the Ministry of Transport, and will launch an ongoing process to enforce lakeside safety measures to ensure compliance with passenger limits and lifejacket regulations.
Boating accidents are common on Lake Volta, often caused by overloading and collisions with tree trunks.
In August, six people were killed in a similar accident, and 18 people died in May 2023 after their boat struck a submerged tree trunk.
