Nine people, including children, have been confirmed dead after a boat capsized on the Volta Lake at Yeji in the Pru East District of the Bono East Region.

The incident occurred on Thursday, April 9, 2026, when the boat, carrying 14 passengers, was struck by an early morning storm while travelling to Kongo in the Savannah Region.

Five of the passengers were rescued, while the remaining victims were recovered following search efforts.

Preliminary reports indicate that 11 of those on board belonged to the same family, raising the scale of the tragedy for relatives and the affected community.

Overloading and safety breaches suspected

Initial findings suggest the vessel may have been overloaded, with none of the passengers wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.

Reports also indicate that the passengers boarded the boat at an unauthorised landing site, raising fresh concerns about safety compliance on inland waterways.

Authorities are yet to release a full account of the circumstances leading to the disaster, but the incident has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations on the lake.

Renewed concerns over lake transport safety

The latest tragedy adds to a series of boat accidents on the Volta Lake, where weak enforcement of safety measures, overloading and the absence of life-saving equipment have often been cited as major risks.

Residents and stakeholders have repeatedly urged authorities to intensify monitoring of operators and ensure strict adherence to safety protocols, particularly during adverse weather conditions.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.