DANGER LOOMS ON OTI RIVER 

*As boats overload; and lack life jackets

STORY: FROM MICHAEL SARPONG MFUM, DAMBAI V/R

Thousands of passengers who travel on the Oti River stand the risk of losing their lives if steps are not taken to ensure that boats plying the course observe the required safety measures in water transport.

A recent visit to Dambai by Today revealed that boats on the river have thrown caution to the wind as they continue to overload and do not provide passengers with life jackets necessary to ensure their safety on the river.

Accounting for about 40% of the volume of water in the Volta Lake, the Oti River, which flows from plains in Burkina Faso, and forms part of the international boundaries between Benin and Burkina Faso and between Togo and Ghana, is the major means of transportation for the people in the Northern, Volta and Eastern Regions.

Though navy personnel have been deplored to the Krachi East and West Districts to check the boat operators from overloading, none of the personnel was seen on sight when this reporter visited as boat operators continuously overload.

Taking advantage of the absence of the security personnel in the region, boat operators were seen overloading their boats.

The situation, Today was reliably informed, gets worst especially on Tuesdays when people from the length and breadth of the country go to trade at Dambai.

“My brother, it is very serious on Tuesdays, you just can’t believe your eyes when you see boats over loading,…the only thing you can do is to pray for them as there is no one to check on them,” a disturbed resident told our reporter.

However, the situation was different at Kete Krachi, where boat operators there turn to provide enough life jackets for passengers who cross to Kejeji in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Attempts to speak to boat operators and owners however proved futile as they refused to talk openly on the issue.

When contacted on the matter, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Krachi East, Hon. Raphael Kofi Ogyemoko, said plans were far advanced to help boat operators in Dambai and its environs get life jackets to ensure safety during their work.

“We currently have in our possession some life jackets which we are going to give to the boat operators. We have therefore asked the boat operators to register with the Assembly because we do not want to give the life jackets to anybody; I believe this will go a long way to save lives and property,” he noted.