The Pru East District Secretariat of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), in partnership with the Ghana Navy, has launched a sensitisation campaign to train residents in and around Yeji on water safety, the proper use of life jackets, and basic rescue skills to reduce fatalities on the Volta Lake.

The exercise, themed “Fund Resilience, Not Disaster,” brought together boat operators, fisherfolk, and local community members whose daily lives and economic activities depend heavily on the lake. It forms part of broader efforts to curb the rising number of boat accidents, especially during the rainy season.

Speaking to Adom News reporter Daniel Tachie, Pru East NADMO Director, Sandra Dua, underscored the importance of safety awareness among communities living along the lake.

“We’ve had several unfortunate incidents in the past due to the non-use or improper use of life jackets. Our aim is to equip the community with the knowledge and tools to stay safe while using the lake,” she explained.

As part of the training, officers from the Ghana Navy conducted practical demonstrations on how to wear life jackets and respond properly during emergencies.

Leading the Navy team, CPO1 Mohammed Koblaje called for collective responsibility in preventing accidents on the lake.

“Safety on our waters must be a shared responsibility. We are committed to supporting NADMO and the local communities to prevent avoidable tragedies,” he said.

Participants welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and essential for communities whose livelihoods depend on water transport.

They also appealed for more outreach programs and the supply of life jackets to commercial boat operators to ensure compliance with safety standards.

The sensitisation campaign follows a series of recent boat accidents on Volta Lake, with the latest being the death of 15 people, and has reignited calls for intensified public education and stricter enforcement of maritime safety regulations.

Authorities say more community-based training programs are planned in other parts of the lake zone to further reduce preventable deaths.