At least 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 April 9, 2026, when the boat, carrying 14 passengers, was caught in an early morning storm while travelling to Kongo in the Savannah Region. Five passengers were rescued, while the remaining victims were later recovered during search operations.
Preliminary reports indicate that 11 of the passengers were from the same family, deepening the impact of the tragedy on the affected community.
Initial investigations suggest the boat may have been overloaded, with none of the passengers wearing life jackets. It was also reported that the vessel departed from an unauthorized landing site, raising concerns about safety compliance.
Authorities are yet to release a full report on the incident, but the tragedy has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations on inland waterways. Stakeholders continue to highlight overloading, poor safety practices, and weak regulatory oversight as persistent risks on the lake.