Seven people have been confirmed dead after a boat capsized on the Volta Lake while travelling from Yeji to Congo.
This was announced by the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) in a statement dated April 9, 2026. According to the Authority, the incident occurred on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, between Sikakope and Mataiko in the Gonja East District of the Savannah Region.
Preliminary findings indicate that the vessel, carrying 14 passengers, was hit by severe weather conditions at about 5:30pm, leading to the tragic accident.
According to the Authority, immediate rescue efforts led to the recovery of five survivors, all male, while search operations for missing persons continued.
“As of Thursday, April 9, 2026, seven (7) bodies comprising two females and five children have been recovered,” the GMA stated.
Two passengers, a woman and a child, are still unaccounted for as divers from the Ghana Navy and emergency response teams intensify search operations on the Volta Lake.
The Authority also raised serious concerns over safety compliance, noting that none of the passengers were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.
“The Authority is gravely concerned by findings that none of the passengers were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident,” it said, adding that the lapse significantly contributed to the loss of life.
The GMA has reminded boat operators and passengers that life jacket use is mandatory and warned that enforcement measures will be strengthened to prevent similar tragedies in future.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the disaster.
