Volta Lake disaster-Parliament sends condolences

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 June '99

Parliament on Tuesday expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the Volta Lake boat disaster and called on the Ministry of Roads and Transport to take measures to ensure that such catastrophes do not recur.

"Parliament shares the grief of the people along the lake and we send our condolences. We call on the sector ministry to ensure safety on water bodies, especially, on the Volta Lake, its very important", Mr Ken Dzirasah, First Deputy Speaker said.

This was after Mr Samuel K. Apraku, NDC-Kete Krachi, had made a statement on the boat disaster, which occurred on June four, and in which 185 people perished. They were travelling from Kete Krachi to Abotoase.

It was also announced that the house would soon enact a bill to regulate and regularise water transportation in the country, in addition to existing rules and regulations put in place by the sector ministry.

In the statement, Mr Apraku appealed to the government, on humanitarian grounds, to support affected families with a financial package.

"This will enable children of the deceased to continue their education and also care for their families in the absence of the departed bread winners".

Mr Apraku appealed to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to go to the aid of the victims.

The member deplored the practice whereby the Ministry set up a committee of inquiry any time a disaster occurred, only to fail to implement its recommendations.

"These reports end in archives, so the disasters continue to happen since these boats are not insured the people continue to die, excuse me, like fowls or animals".

He reiterated the need for the Ministry to put in measures to ensure safety on the lake.

Mr Apraku commended the Vice-President for taking time off his busy schedule to mourn with the people, while on a duty tour of the district at the time of the disaster.

Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, the Minority Spokesman on Finance said the disaster and other accidents in the country and the inaction of organisations concerned, "show the low premium being put on the lives of the citizens of this country".

He called for a review of policies in relation to such issues, adding that out of this disaster must come a national policy to ensure the safety of the people.

Mr Steve Akorli, a Deputy Minister of the sector, said reports show that the accident was as a result of "indiscipline".

He said after the 1995 disaster, the Ministry came out with guidelines but these have not been adhered to, saying even where the district assemblies have provided life jackets most passengers refuse to use them.

The problem was a social one and called on all to help implement regulations as well as educate the people along the lake to follow the ground rules.

At the time of the accident, the boat, which was designed to carry 55 passengers, was carrying 217 people, eight cows, 35 sheep and goats, 3,500 tubers of yam, 25 bags of groundnuts, 60 baskets of smoked fish, 20 sacks of cassava dough and 15 sacks of kokonte (powdered cassava).