Enhancing Safety on Volta Lake: A Collaborative Effort
The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) is taking significant steps to improve safety on the Volta Lake, focusing on both infrastructure development and community engagement. This initiative includes deploying staff to key locations and ensuring that affordable life jackets are accessible to boat operators and local residents. The efforts are particularly concentrated in Kpando Torkor, a vital area within the Volta Region.
During a recent working visit, the GMA’s Board of Directors, led by Chairperson Madam Jemilat Jawula Mahamah, emphasized the importance of these measures. The authority is currently building a coordination office at the Torkor crossing point, which will help officials enforce load limits and ensure compliance with safety regulations on passenger boats traveling along the Torkor and its surrounding routes.
This new office, combined with the provision of affordable safety gear, represents a major step forward in making the Volta Lake a safer environment for the thousands of people who use it daily for transportation, trade, and other essential activities.
Sensitization and Community Collaboration
Addressing community leaders and selected boat owners during a familiarization visit, the Director General of GMA, Dr Kamal-Deen Ali (Naval Capt Rtd), highlighted the strategic importance of the new office. He described it as a central coordination point for all maritime safety activities in the region, which serves as a crucial transportation hub connecting numerous island communities via the Volta Lake.
Dr Ali also announced the GMA’s commitment to making life jackets available at reasonable costs for boat operators and community members. He stressed that these essential items are vital for saving lives and preventing accidents on the lake.
He further emphasized the importance of community collaboration, urging residents to work closely with the GMA to ensure safety. “The community are the only people who can ensure safety if they wish to,” he noted, underscoring the critical role of local ownership in maritime safety efforts.
Dr Ali also recognized the Queenmother of the Torkor community for her proactive role in facilitating accommodation and office space for the newly deployed GMA personnel.
MP and Boat Operators Welcome Initiatives
The Member of Parliament for Kpando, Sebastian Deh, welcomed the GMA’s initiatives, highlighting the community’s need for both economic growth and enhanced safety. Mr Deh pointed out that Kpando Torkor is the oldest inland landing point in the Volta Region and that its long-standing fishing trade must be preserved and protected. This issue has become more urgent due to the recent breakdown of the main ferry from Torkor to Agordeke.
The MP commended the deployment of the search and rescue boat, the ‘Martey Korley,’ to the community to aid rapid responses in the event of disasters. He pledged to establish robust information systems to continually sensitize the community on best safety practices.
The Chairman of the Boat Operators at Torkor, Gideon Kpordzi, welcomed the decision on the life jackets. He explained that many boat owners and operators lack adequate stock, with some boats carrying a capacity of around 20 passengers having only two or three life jackets onboard.
Mr Kpordzi also expressed concerns about the inadequate premix fuel distribution ratio, which often causes passenger boats to experience shortages midway through their voyages. He hopes that the GMA will advocate for a greater allocation of premix fuel for the operators to support their business.
Conclusion
The GMA’s efforts to enhance safety on the Volta Lake reflect a growing recognition of the importance of collaboration between authorities and local communities. By investing in infrastructure, providing essential safety equipment, and engaging with stakeholders, the GMA is laying the foundation for a safer and more sustainable maritime environment on the lake.