The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in the Oti Region is calling on the government to provide vehicles, motorbikes, and other logistics to strengthen enforcement of life jacket use on the Volta Lake.
According to the Krachi West Municipal NADMO Director, Awudu Gariba, the lack of transport is making it difficult for officers to reach island and lakeside communities, putting lives at risk.
“Our officers struggle to move around to educate and monitor communities on lake safety because we do not have the necessary means of transportation,” Mr Gariba told reporters. “If we had vehicles and motorbikes, we could visit more fishing communities and ensure that people wear life jackets while using the lake.”
He explained that about fifteen communities in the Krachi area have so far received life jackets, with plans to extend the distribution to forty-two more island settlements.
Mr Gariba praised Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and the government for their quick response after a recent boat accident that claimed sixteen lives, including children. The incident occurred when a canoe traveling from Okuma Akura to Debume Kope capsized on the lake.
During her visit to the grieving community, the Vice President, accompanied by the Minister for Transport and the National NADMO Director, presented about two hundred life jackets and other relief items to victims and families affected by the tragedy.
Mr Gariba said improving NADMO’s mobility would not only help enforce safety regulations but also save lives by preventing future disasters on the Volta Lake.
