Accra, Sept. 11, GNA 96 The Maritime and Dockworkers Union on Monday recommended a comprehensive programme of safety measures, including the mandatory use of life jackets to end the loss of life through boat disasters on the Volta Lake. In a statement issued in Accra in reaction to disasters on the Lake, the MDU said tree stumps in the Lake should be removed, education on safety, checking of overloading, standardisation of number of passengers and load on boats.

=93We think that there have been enough theoretical discussion of solutions to the increasing rate of accidents on the Volta Lake and it is time to act,=94 the MDU said.

The Union said as a long-term measure, the institutionalisation of safety education of passengers and boat operators would help to reduce the accidents on the Lake.

It said the long experience of the Volta Lake Transport Company (VLTC) on safety issues relating to water transport would be relevant in seeking solutions to the accidents on the Volta Lake. =93In this regard, we recommend that VLTC should be adequ ately resourced to play an important role as an implementing agency in the education on safety and implementation of regulations.=94 The Union said the Government and agencies should support efforts to procure and distribute life jackets to commercial boat operators. District Assemblies could also procure safety jackets in large quantities and hire them out to boat owners on hourly basis to generate revenues. =93We wish to propose that the District Assemblies should be empowered by legislation to enforce the use of life jackets on commercial boats,=94 it said. 11 Sept. 06