Mr. Gabriel Gyeni, Assemblyman for Alabowale near Elubo in the Jomoro District, has appealed to the District Assembly for the provision of boat life jackets to save the lives of those who travel in canoes on the Tano River.

He made the call when he interacted with the Jomoro Coordinating Director, Mr. Amadu Adams.

The only means of transportation of the people of Abenea, Mpasem, Bolezo and Dogye in the electoral area to Elubo is by sailing.

Mr. Gyeni said during the rainy season, Tano River becomes dangerous and often capsizes canoes resulting in deaths.

“The situation is so alarming that the District Assembly has provided a narrow boat but without life-jackets,” he said and added that travelling without the life-jackets was dangerous as the river had overflowed its banks.

He recalled the drowning of Gideon Kwateng Yeboah, Registration Officer on special duties during the recent Biometric Voter Registration exercise, saying, “If there was a life-jacket his life would have been saved.”

He suggested that when the facility is provided, it could be hired out to passengers for a fee to recoup the cost of purchase.

The District Coordinating Director in his response assured the Assemblyman that he would carry his appeal across to management of the Assembly and see how best they could address the demand.**