Two persons have been confirmed dead after a canoe carrying seven passengers capsized on the White Volta River at Daboya last Thursday.
The incident occurred during a routine crossing, at a time when water levels had risen sharply following the spillage of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso.
Officials and local commuters say the tragedy could have been avoided if basic safety logistics had been available.
The Deputy Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) for the North Gonja District of the Savanna Region, Reacting to the incident, Mr Eliasu, described the situation as worrying.
He appealed to the government and other stakeholders to urgently provide life jackets and rescue equipment for communities along the river.
“The lack of life jackets and other safety logistics is putting lives at risk. Government must intervene quickly,” he stressed.
A regular commuter who uses the river daily, Mr Saeed Kagbal, called on the government to expedite work on the ongoing Daboya Bridge project.
According to him, completion of the bridge will end the over-reliance on canoes and ensure the safety of residents and travellers.
He also called for temporary protective measures at the riverside while construction continues.
A canoe paddler with years of experience on the river, Jamani Abdul Hafiz, attributed the current high water level to the Bagre Dam spillage. He explained that the strong currents have made crossing dangerous, and the absence of life jackets has forced some passengers to suspend their trips altogether.
Residents are appealing for immediate government intervention to prevent further loss of lives.
