The money was spent to remove a total of some 21,265 tree stumps on the waterway.

The project was carried out by the Kete Krachi Timber Recovery (KKTR) Ltd. between 2019 and 2023.

This was contained in the Auditor General’s performance report on the safety of inland water transport on the Volta Lake. The audit was done between January and March 2024.

According to the report, the exercise covered 68 meters high within 300 meters wide from five inland waterways namely Yeji–Mankango, Yeji–Awujakope, Dambai-Njare, Bridge Ano–Ntoaboma Crossing and Agordeke waterways.

A total of 21,268 tree stumps were identified by GMA out of which 21,265 were removed. The remaining three tree stumps on the Yeji–Mankango waterway were not removed due to religious reasons.

On the Yeji-Mankango waterway, some 3,553 pieces of tree stumps were identified, and 3,550 were removed in 2019 at the cost of GH₵9, 587,500 million; in 2020, a total of 4,723 stumps were removed on the Yeji-Awujakope area at the cost of GH₵11,484,306 million.

It also cost GMA GH₵19, 971,372.96 million to remove some 10,499 stumps on the Dambai-Njare stretch of the water in the year 2021.

In the following year (2022), GH₵13,138,488 million was spent to remove some 1,179 pieces of stumps on the Bridge Ano-Notoaboma crossing area.

In 2023, Ghc33, 443,424 million was spent to remove some 1,317 stumps at the Agordeke enclave, the highest amount spent throughout the five-year project.

The project was aimed at reducing waterway accidents on the lake. Mostly, tree stumps are the cause of accidents on the Volta Lake.

Over the years, many lives and goods were lost to the lake as a result of accidents while transporting on the water. Bad weather conditions have also caused some of these accidents.

Meanwhile, the Auditor General concluded the audit by identifying that “GMA had not removed tree stumps impeding safety of navigation on the inland waterways; hence commuters are at risk of losing their lives or goods from tree stumps yet to be removed”.

On recommendation, the Auditor General said, “We recommend that GMA should expedite the assessment of the Volta Lake and take steps to ensure the removal of tree stumps in the waterways to improve the safety of navigation”.

Many commuters remain vulnerable to using traditional watercraft on the Volta Lake due to the existence of tree stumps in some areas, and the lack of technology for accurate navigation.

Source: Albert Kuzor

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Mpraeso Member of Parliament (MP), Davis Opoku Ansah, disclosed this on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday.

This flooding is as a result of the Volta Lake breaking its banks, which displaced 2,500 residents from nine communities in the Pru East District.

Speaking on the extent of damage, the MP disclosed that about 43 acres of onion farmlands have been completely destroyed.

He said the affected areas include Adawso, Asuboni, Ketepa, Jerusalem, and its environs.

OPK, as he is popularly known, stated that, he has taken steps to support to the victims in his own small way since relief items have not been forthcoming.

He has appealed to all Ghanaians especially Kwahu natives to come to the aid of his constituents.

“The area which connects to the Afram Plains is the food basket and so we should help the people get back on their feet,” OPK appealed.

The Volta River Authority (VRA) commenced controlled spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams on September 15, 2023, due to a consistent rise in the inflow pattern and water level of the Akosombo reservoir.

Figures from NADMO and VRA indicate that, about 30,000 people have been displaced following the spillage of the Akosombo dam in various communities in the Volta and Eastern regions.

Thousands of residents in South Tongu, North Tongu, Central Tongu, Asuogyaman, and several other areas have submerged homes due to the spillage.

Benevolent organisations and individuals have since donated some relief items to the victims to ensure their plights are ameliorated.

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The victims comprise 1,302 males and 1,252 females, according to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

Communities affected are Kobre Nsuano, Pentecost Nsuano, Adiembra, Fanteakura, Tokobikope, Tonka, Agokope, Logakope and others.

The Pru East District NADMO Director, Fredrick Ndila Ntana, said in a media interview that the victims have been relocated to higher grounds.

“So far we have about over nine communities which are affected by the floods. These are Fanteakura, Birikente, Tokobikope, Accra Town, Kobre Nsuano, Who Are You, and many others.”

“And so now we have about 2554 people displaced and these are the breakdown. The males are 1,302 and the females are 1,252…we have relocated them to the highest grounds,” he said.

It will also be recalled that over 26,000 people have been displaced following the spillage of the Akosombo dam in various communities in the Volta and Eastern regions.

The Volta River Authority (VRA) commenced controlled spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams on September 15, 2023, due to a consistent rise in the inflow pattern and water level of the Akosombo reservoir.

Thousands of residents in South Tongu, North Tongu, Central Tongu, Asuogyaman, and several other areas have had homes submerged due to the spillage.

Meanwhile, benevolent organisations and individuals have donated some relief items to the victims to ensure their plights are ameliorated.

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Five persons have been reported dead after a boat carrying mourners capsized on the Volta Lake in the Volta Region.

Reports indicate the boat was transporting the mourners from Azizanya to Azizakpe.

The victims are said to include two women and three children.

The Assembly member of Azizakpe Electoral Area, Daniel Adzakpa, who confirmed the disaster to Accra-based TV3, blamed it on overloading.

Mr Adzakpa noted his checks have revealed there were 25 persons on board but suspects they were more than that.

He noted the deceased were part of about 15 persons who were rescued with efforts underway to get more people out.

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The Assembly member indicated most of the boat owners also do not have life jackets, adding those who have them are also inadequate for occupants who usually board the boat.

The eight were among 20 pupils who were travelling from Atikagome to Wayokope when the incident occurred midway into the journey.

The Sene East Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Ibrahim Wudonyim, speaking to Citi News on the incident said the information about the tragedy came to them late.

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Mr Wudonyim said the incident happened in a small fishing community where the only school in the area is located.

The joint operation rescued four adult men and five boys from exploitation on the portion of the Volta Lake at Yeji.

Two of the four adult victims were trafficked 20 years ago and were said to have been brought to work on the lake at ages three and five respectively and the youngest of the five boys arrived less than a year ago.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tema after the rescue mission, Mr Kojo Owiredu Kissi, Coordinator, Media and Communications, International Justice Mission (IJM), an anti-human trafficking not-for-profit organization in Ghana, said an operation by the two institutions led to the rescue of the victims at Yeji.

He indicated that the rescue process was owned and led by government partners from the Ghana Police Service and Department of Social Welfare with technical and logistical support from IJM Ghana.

Mr Kissi expressed heartfelt gratitude to the two institutions for their dedication and unflinching support towards ending human trafficking on the Volta Lake, adding that, “they must be commended because this rescue was successful due to their dedication and collaborative efforts and outstanding work.”

Mr Kissi said six of the victims have been reintegrated and are currently at home with their families where they would be supported to go back to school or undertake vocational skills while three of them were in a shelter home.

He noted that the master, now a suspect, recruited the young children to work on the Lake for fishing.

Mr Kissi said the suspect controlled every aspect of the lives of the children adding that they were not allowed to play or associate with anybody outside of the suspect’s family and would be punished violently if they did.

He said anyone outside of the suspect’s family who tried to interact with the children would also be subject to violence, “if the children begin to develop relations with neighbours, they would be sent to more remote islands to ensure their isolation.”

Mr Kissi stated that the only movement the children were allowed to engage in was between the suspect’s house and his boat, noting that they were responsible both for housework and fishing on the lake.

He said the victims were identified to have been trafficked from the Volta and Bono Regions.

The trained lifeguards, drawn from about nine regions in the country, comprising both males and females will be deployed to save lives on Ghana’s water bodies.

The Basic Water Safety and Life Guard Training Course were made possible under the Volta Lake Transport Safety Project (VLTSP), a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Ministry of Transport and Ecozoil, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC).

The course was undertaken in two parts with the first part commencing on February 11, this year, which lasted for six weeks.

In a welcome address, the Flight Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Commodore Emmanuel Ayensu Kwafo, while commending the leadership of the Leadership Training School, ENC praised the trainees for their endurance.

He said the participants were trained in firefighting tactics, confidence jump and survival at sea, and endurance on water to save lives and property among others.

The objective of this training, he said, is to help avert accidents on the Volta Lake and other water bodies.

“This is not the first time Ecozoil is embarking on such a project. It happened some 10-11 years ago”, adding that the Ghana Navy has also been supporting in saving lives on Ghana’s water bodies.

Lifeguard Operative, Prosper Kofi Abochie, was adjudged the Overall Best Trainee, and also received a Special Certificate of Commendation.

Augustina Agyemang was the Best Female Trainee-2nd batch, Nehard Mumuni; Best Make-3rd batch, Ruth Astwei Adjetey; Best Female Trainee-3rd batch, Abubakar Fuseini; Best Male-4th batch, Benedicta Eklu; Best Female- 4th Batch)–all received Special Certificate of Commendation.

Speaking at a colourful passing out ceremony, the Minister of Transport, who was the Guest of Honour; Kwaku Ofori Asiama, congratulated the trainees and urged them to use their training skills acquired to save lives on the Volta Lake and the country’s water bodies

He explained as part of the project, the government will be providing free life jackets to commuters on the Volta Lake, and also help educate residents along the lake.

“This project will also provide jobs to the youth in the coastal areas,” he said.

The Executive Chairman, JGC, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, in a short address, urged the lifeguards to do their best to make water transport safer in the country.

He announced that his outfit will provide three-speed boats to the Ghana Navy to help support the security agency in its naval operations.

The VLTSP, he explained, had become necessary because of the challenges bedevilling transportation on the Volta Lake and other water bodies in the country.

“Transportation on the Volta Lake is plagued with challenges including lack of life jackets for commuters, overloading on boats, and lack of safety education on the lake,” he bemoaned.

According to him, the project seeks to employ the youth from communities along the Volta Lake and equip them with basic skills in water survival and rescue operations to ensure safety of commuters on the lake.

“In addition, it helps to maintain cleanliness at the various landing sites, provide safety education to both boat operators and commuters, provide life jackets to commuters to protect them on the lake,” he added.

Dr Agyepong disclosed that the project covers 40 municipal district assemblies (MDAs).

He, therefore, thanked the Transport Minister for the confidence he reposed in his company which resulted in the renewal of the project.

“I also want to thank the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Isaah Yakubu, the Flight Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command Commodore Emmanuel Ayensu Kwafio, for the training of the lifeguards.

“To the Ecozoil team, let’s work hard to ensure that the project achieves its objectives so it can become a model for other countries in the world to emulate,” he charged the trainees.

On his part, the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Isaah Yakubu, commended Dr Siaw Agyepong for his pledge to support the navy with speed boats.

He encouraged the lifeguards to always have the interest of the country first in the discharge of their duties.

Information gathered suggests that the incident occurred around 10:30 am on Monday, May 3, 2021.

The children, aged five and three are said to have gone to the shore with their 15-year-old sister to wash.

Upon arrival, the children demanded that their sister gives them water to bathe which she did only for them to later go into the river to swim.

An eyewitness spotted them during their first attempt and sacked them from the lake, however, they went back on their sister’s blindside.

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Narrating the incident in an interview with Adom News, the Abusuapanyin, Francis Nsiah said a resident who had come to fetch water found the children in the water.

All attempts to rescue them proved futile as another person almost drowned during the rescue effort.

He explained, however, that the bodies have been retrieved with burial scheduled for not later than tomorrow.