Residents of Mepe, a riverside community in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region, are raising a desperate appeal to government and disaster management authorities for the urgent supply of life jackets to safeguard lives on the Volta River.
For decades, the Volta River has served as the community’s lifeline, connecting people to markets, schools, farms, and neighbouring towns through canoe transport. Yet, this vital waterway has also become a death trap due to the absence of basic safety equipment.
Mr. Kwesi Agblegbo, a daily user of the river, lamented the dangers they face:
“We use the river every day, and accidents can happen at any time. With life jackets, lives can be saved. Without them, every trip is a risk we are forced to take.”
Residents recalled multiple tragic incidents in which canoes capsized, leading to loss of lives that could have been prevented with simple safety measures. They stressed that the river, while a blessing, continues to bring grief to families who lose loved ones to drowning.
The community is therefore calling on the government and NADMO to prioritise the supply of life jackets, the Volta River Authority (VRA) to take responsibility for ensuring safe navigation, and non-government organisations and philanthropists to support this urgent need.
“The Volta River is our source of livelihood, but it should not be a source of death. Providing life jackets is not a luxury; it is a necessity,” one resident said.
By: Daniel Orlando/newsalertgh.com
