The Ministry of Transport has announced that passengers who refuse to wear life jackets before using inland waterways will no longer be allowed to travel, in a move aimed at strengthening safety and reducing drowning incidents.
Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe made the announcement on Tuesday in Accra at the commissioning of 200 Water Safety Guards and the launch of the Life Jacket Safety and Livelihood Initiative, spearheaded by the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) under the Ministry’s oversight.
As part of the initiative, the GMA will roll out subsidised sales, rental options, and a hybrid scheme to make life jackets more affordable and accessible, ensuring that no passenger crosses a water body without adequate protection.
The Minister said the policy supports President Mahama’s broader agenda to “restore order, accountability, and safety on our waterways,” while preventing tragedies such as the 2024 incident in Saboba that claimed about 70 students.
He stressed the importance of Ghana’s rivers and wetlands, describing them as vital transport links that connect farmers to markets, children to schools, and families to healthcare. However, he noted that the same waterways have also been the site of repeated and preventable loss of life.
Recalling past tragedies, Mr Nikpe cited the Saboba drowning incident and another recent case in Kete Krachi, where families reportedly lost their lives on the water. He said President Mahama had directed that such incidents must not be repeated, prompting urgent government action to recruit and train community-based safety personnel.
“President Mahama ordered that this should be the last one… we must work to stop these needless deaths,” he said.
Director-General of the GMA, Dr Kamal-Deen Ali (Naval Captain Rtd.), said the deployment of the 200 safety guards marks a shift from concern to concrete action in addressing safety challenges on inland waterways.
He described the initiative as a cultural reset for water transport safety, stressing that improving safety standards is essential for national development.
Dr Ali urged boat operators to cooperate with the newly deployed guards, noting that their role is to ensure strict compliance so that no vessel departs without all passengers wearing life jackets.
“Boat operators should see the guards as partners, not adversaries,” he said, adding that commuters must also support the enforcement process.
The President of the National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council, Mr Jacob Kabore Tetteh Ageke, pledged the support of local communities for the initiative.
He assured that canoe and boat operators, passengers and residents would comply with safety directives at all crossing points, while also supporting the work of the new safety guards.
“We commit to ensuring the regular use of life jackets and supporting the safety guards in their duties,” he said.
Mr Ageke added that community education and cooperation will be key to the success of the policy, stressing that public understanding will improve compliance and strengthen safety on inland waterways.