The Pru East District Secretariat of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), in partnership with the Ghana Navy, has launched a community sensitization campaign in Yeji to promote safe practices on the Volta Lake.
The initiative, themed “Fund Resilience, Not Disaster,” aimed to educate residents, particularly boat operators and fisherfolk, on the proper use of life jackets and basic rescue procedures during water-related emergencies.
Speaking to Adom News, the Pru East NADMO Director, Sandra Dua, highlighted the need to curb frequent accidents on the lake, especially during the rainy season when water levels and travel risks increase.
“Over the years, we’ve lost lives due to people not wearing or incorrectly using life jackets. This campaign seeks to empower the community with the skills and awareness needed to stay safe,” she said.
Officers from the Ghana Navy led hands-on demonstrations, guiding participants on how to correctly wear life jackets and respond to distress situations on the lake.
The Navy Commander leading the exercise, CPO1 Mohammed Koblaje, urged residents to treat water safety as a collective duty.
“Safety on our waters is everyone’s responsibility. The Navy will continue to collaborate with NADMO and local communities to reduce preventable accidents,” he remarked.
Residents expressed appreciation for the training, describing it as timely and practical. Many appealed for more frequent community engagements and the provision of enough life jackets for commercial boat users.
The exercise follows a string of recent accidents on the Volta Lake, which have intensified calls for stronger enforcement of safety regulations and continuous public education.
Source: Daniel Tachie
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