Wusuta (V/R), Oct 27, GNA - The Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) is liaising with the Ministry of Transport, the police and Boat Owners' associations to ensure compliance with river transport safety regulations in the region.

The council is envisaging some licensing system that would preclude certain boat types from carrying passengers. Mr Joseph Amenorwode, the Volta Regional Minister, said this when he led a representative group of the Volta Regional Security Council to visit survivors of the October 19, boat disaster on the Volta Lake, between Wusuta-Kpeme in the Kpando District and Torganu in the Afram-Plains. He said the police and navy would be involved to clamp down on recalcitrant boat owners who would go against directives. Seventeen people, mainly pupils of the Torganu District Assembly Primary School who were returning from a colleague's burial, died when their boats capsized.

Mr Emmanuel Afelete, Assembly Member for the area, said 12 bodies had been retrieved and that five are missing.

Mr Raphael Nanikumah, the Headmaster, said the two boats, bound by a twine and powered by one outboard motor encountered a storm and capsized. He said he was helped by three others to save some of the passengers. Mr Nanikumah, the only teacher at a school with an enrolment of 146, said the pupils were mainly members of the school choir. Mr Amenorwode donated Ghc 500.00 to the survivors while Mr Francis Ganyaglo, Kpando District Chief Executive, gave Ghc 200.00 to the search party to continue their search for the remaining bodies. 27 Oct 09