By: Akua Oteng Amponsah
Starting next year 2026, wearing life jackets on the Volta Lake will become mandatory for all passengers and operators, the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has announced.
The move aims to strengthen safety standards and prevent accidents on the lake whiles onboard.
To support the new policy, the GMA is acquiring a large number of life jackets for vessels that operate between the Kpando-Torkor Harbour and the Afram Plains. There are currently about 150 vessels stationed at Kpando Torkor, including fishing canoes, but some boats reportedly carry only two or three life jackets.
This was disclosed by the Director-General of the GMA, Naval Captain Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali (rtd), when he led a delegation to inspect a soon-to-be-commissioned office at the Kpando-Torkor Harbour, as well as a rescue boat named A. Martey Korley, which was anchored on the lake in September. The Board Chairperson of the GMA, Jemilat Jawala Mahamah, was also part of the inspection team.
Naval Captain Ali described the Kpando-Torkor Harbour as a “national transport treasure” with the potential to significantly improve livelihoods. He stressed that the GMA was fully committed to enforcing safety protocols on all boats and canoes operating on the lake.
He noted that the recent successful delivery of the rescue boat to Kpando-Torkor underscored “President Mahama’s concern for safety on the lake and the importance he attached to the harbour.”
Expressing appreciation to the local community, Naval Captain Ali commended residents for maintaining a good relationship with the GMA and urged them to participate in an upcoming public education campaign on lake safety. “Without your help, the harbour here will serve no purpose,” he stated.
He further linked the safety initiative to the government’s Reset Agenda and 24-Hour Economy, emphasizing that safety measures could not be ignored. “So, the use of life jackets by boat operators and passengers on the boats will no longer be an option,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kpando, Sebastian Deh, also highlighted the bright prospects of the local fishing industry, adding that adherence to safety regulations would enhance productivity.
“That means jobs will be created for the youth, businesses will flourish and other development activities will follow suit,” he remarked.
During an interactive session, some boat owners appealed to authorities to repair the road linking Kpando town to Kpando-Torkor, saying the improvement would help boost economic activities at the harbour market.
