Vice President, Professor Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has adopted a survivor of the River Oti boat tragedy and her baby. 

Additionally, the Vice President donated relief items to support the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster. 

The relief items included 200 life jackets, four bales of second-hand clothing, 70 cartons of Frytol, 100 bags of rice, 10 cartons of soap, 100 bales of mosquito nets and GH¢200,000 cash. 

Addressing the community members in Okuma – Debume, the Vice-President urged residents living along riverbanks to prioritise wearing life jackets when travelling on the lake

According to her, wearing life jackets can significantly reduce the risk of fatalities in water accidents. 

She called for a behavioural change towards water safety, stressing that life jackets should be worn at all times while on the Lake. 

Madam Helen Adwoa Ntoso, Member of Parliament (MP) of Krachi West constituency, cautioned boat operators in her area to adhere to safety protocols, particularly with regard to passenger capacity.

She reminded operators that loading above the designated capacity line posed a significant risk to the lives of passengers and urged them to prioritise safety over profits. 

John Kwadwo Gyapong, the Oti Regional Minister, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the government and the delegation from the Presidency for their condolences and donation, following the tragic boat accident on the River Oti. 

He emphasised that the gesture demonstrated the government’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens, particularly in times of distress. 

Fifteen people, including three children, died in a tragic boat accident that occurred on Saturday, October 11, 2025, in the Krachi West Municipality of the Oti Region. 

The speedboat, which had 19 passengers onboard, was travelling from Okumakrua, an island community, to a nearby island, Debume, for a funeral, when the incident occurred. 

The bodies of three of the deceased had been deposited at the Kete Krachi Government Hospital morgue, with nine others at the Worawora Government Hospital mortuary.  

The three children aged between two and four years were buried instantly at the shore of the Lake. 

Kwasi Aborga, a survivor turned rescuer,  narrated that “There were 17 of us in the boat. Only two of us managed to swim out alive.”  

The other survivor said he helped to retrieve some of the bodies, adding, “It was a terrible scene I can never forget.” 

Authorities attributed the disaster to alleged overloading and an unstable balance of the boat.

Source:GNA