The Police in Yeji in the Brong Ahafo Region have arrested the owner of the boat which recently capsized on the Volta lake resulting in the death of 15 people.
Initial reports indicated that six children all under three years old, had drowned as their bodies were retrieved from the river on Sunday by a rescue team.
[contextly_sidebar id=”sHNWvOuGc1qQ3RwRUEDcEOV94WHVKOGh”]Subsequently, a total of 15 bodies have been retrieved.
The Police say the investigations revealed that the boat was overloaded.
The owner, T.T Gbedeho, had also hired an unqualified person to operate the boat.
Speaking to Citi News, the Crime Officer for the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command, Superintendent Maama Ahia, said the owner’s arrest will also help them get to the bottom of the matter.
“Our information is that the boat is supposed to take about 40 passengers, but it took more than 70 passengers and he gave the boat to somebody who did not qualify to use the boat. An unlicensed and unqualified person who took so much goods and so much passengers on the boat so we have invited him to assist us in our investigations .”
Early this month, about fifteen people were rescued in another accident involving a ferry heading towards Yeji.
In January, one person died while hundreds were rescued in February in two different accidents.
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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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