Parliament summons Muntaka, Jinapor over drowning of Lawra SHS students

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, and the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, are expected to appear before Parliament next week to address urgent concerns over the lack of life jackets in communities that depend on water transport.

Their summons follows the tragic drowning of seven students from Lawra Senior High School who perished while crossing the Black Volta on June 13, 2025.

Given the relevance of the Volta River to the incident, the Energy Minister’s inclusion is to allow discussions surrounding communities along the Volta River.

During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, June 17, Second Deputy Speaker Andrew Asiamah Amoako endorsed a proposal by Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor for the ministers to appear before the House. He described the issue as critical and in need of swift action.

“If we can look at the budget of the Interior Ministry so that a certain portion of their budget will be allocated to take care of this emergency. It is very critical,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Lawra, Bede Ziedeng, appealed to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Regional Coordinating Council, and the Lawra Municipal Assembly to urgently supply life jackets to communities along the Black Volta.

“I appeal to NADMO, the Regional Coordinating Council and the Lawra Municipal Assembly to come to the aide of Lawra SHS and the bereaved families,” he added.

Ziedeng also pledged to donate ten life jackets to the affected communities and urged Parliament to take immediate legislative action to prevent further tragedies.