Thirteen persons drowned at Jaway Wharf

Three Ghanaians and 10 other persons believed to be Malian and Burkinabe nationals got drowned in the Abbey Lagoon near Big Assini in Cote d'Ivoire last week when the boat on which they were travelling caught fire.

Mr Addulai Arizie, vice-chairman of Jaway Wharf Boatowners Association, who made this known in an interview with the GNA on Thursday, said the Ivorian security agents, rescued eighteen others.

He said about 35 foreign nationals contracted one Egya Ewiah and two other persons, in-charge of the boat to evacuate them to Cote d'Ivoire.

He said the boat left Jaway Wharf near Half Assini at about 1800 hours last Wednesday and after it was checked by the Ivorian security patrol detachment the boat was allowed to continue the journey.

Mr Arizie said the boat later caught fire as a result of a technical fault in the outboard motor, which was propelling the boat and the passengers jumped into the river.

He said thirteen persons got drowned while 18 others in life jackets were rescued by the Ivorian security personnel.

Mr Arizie said some officials of the Customs Excise and Preventive Services (CEPS), and the Immigration Service and some volunteers in Jaway Wharf, organised themselves into a search party and retrieve the bodies of 12 persons the following day and another body was also found on last Saturday.

The bodies of the victims have since been buried at Big Assini in Cote d'Ivoire.

Meanwhile, boat owners have been advised to provide fire extinguishers and other facilities and life jackets to passengers to prevent accidents.

Madam Helen Kpente, Officer in-charge of Immigration Service at Jaway Wharf, who gave the advice in an interview with the GNA last Wednesday, appealed to boat owners to provide the necessary protective equipment for passengers.

Madam Kpente urged boat owners at Jaway Wharf to co-operate with immigration officers to prevent the boats from using unapproved routes that often resulted in accidents.

She also asked boat owners to insure boat operators and passengers against accidents.