Overloading caused boat disaster – Police

The Yeji boat disaster on the Volta River that killed six children (all under three years) on Sunday May 29 was caused by overloading, DSP Abraham Bansah, Yeji District Police Commander, has told Class91.3FM’s Executive Breakfast Show host Prince Minkah on Monday May 30.

He has, therefore, suggested that there be naval officers positioned to patrol both ends of the Volta River to ensure that vessel owners do not overload their boats with passengers and load.

Three other passengers on the vessel are still unaccounted for after the navy and officers from the National Disaster Management Organisation managed to rescue most of the 67 passengers.

The boat capsised after hitting a tree stump in the River, a correspondent in the Brong Ahafo region told Borley Bortey on Class Breakfast News on Monday.

The passengers were being ferried from Nantwekope to Yeji in the Brong Ahafo Region when the accident occurred.

A survivor told journalists that he had to struggle to save his wife and mother in the course of the rescue efforts.

The rescue team is still searching for a woman believed to be in her 80’s, as well as two young men. They are also feared to have drowned.

There have been numerous boat accidents on the Volta River in the past years. Three people died about a week ago on the same River in a similar accident.