Vice President Professor Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has adopted a survivor of the recent River Oti boat tragedy and her baby, extending her personal support to the grieving family.
During a visit to the affected community, the Vice President also donated relief items to assist families who lost loved ones in the disaster. The items included 200 life jackets, four bales of second-hand clothing, 70 cartons of Frytol oil, 100 bags of rice, 10 cartons of soap, 100 bales of mosquito nets, and GH¢200,000 in cash.
Addressing residents of Okuma–Debume, Professor Opoku-Agyemang urged those living along riverbanks to make it a habit to wear life jackets whenever travelling on the lake. She stressed that such precautions could greatly reduce fatalities during water accidents and called for a collective shift in attitude toward water safety.
Member of Parliament for Krachi West, Madam Helen Adwoa Ntoso, also cautioned boat operators in the area to strictly adhere to safety regulations, particularly concerning passenger limits. She warned that overloading vessels endangers lives and urged operators to prioritise safety over profit.
The Oti Regional Minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong, expressed deep appreciation to the government and the presidential delegation for their show of compassion and the donations made to the victims’ families. He noted that the gesture underscored the government’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens, especially in moments of tragedy.
The accident, which occurred on Saturday, October 11, 2025, in the Krachi West Municipality, claimed fifteen lives, including three children. The speedboat, carrying 19 passengers, was travelling from Okumakrua to Debume for a funeral when it capsized.
Bodies of three of the deceased were taken to the Kete Krachi Government Hospital morgue, while nine others were sent to the Worawora Government Hospital. The three children, aged between two and four, were buried immediately at the lakeshore.
A survivor, Kwasi Aborga, who later joined efforts to retrieve bodies, recounted the harrowing experience: “There were 17 of us in the boat. Only two of us managed to swim out alive.” Another survivor described the incident as “a terrible scene I can never forget.”
Authorities have attributed the tragedy to overloading and loss of balance of the boat.
