The Deputy Minister for Transport and Member of Parliament for Jomoro Constituency, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, has commended the government’s inland water safety initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that will save lives, improve livelihoods and boost tourism in riverine communities across Ghana.
Speaking on the sidelines of the commissioning of 200 Inland Water Safety and Regulatory Officers and the distribution of 20,000 life jackets in Accra, Madam Affo-Toffey praised the initiative as a major step towards addressing the growing number of fatalities associated with inland water transport accidents.
The programme forms part of the government’s broader efforts to improve safety standards on Ghana’s inland waterways through enhanced enforcement and public education.
Madam Affo-Toffey expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for spearheading the initiative through the Ministry of Transport and the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), noting that the intervention comes at a critical time when avoidable deaths continue to occur on rivers, lakes and other inland water bodies due to poor safety practices and the non-use of life jackets.
“I want to thank His Excellency the President of the Republic for this great initiative. I think it’s long overdue, especially when you consider the number of lives that have been lost on our rivers and inland water bodies over the years,” she said.
According to the Deputy Minister, the programme is primarily aimed at reducing fatalities on inland waterways by promoting stricter adherence to safety regulations and encouraging the use of life jackets among passengers and operators.
She urged residents of riverine communities to embrace the initiative and actively promote water safety awareness within their localities.
“We need everybody to buy into this initiative. We must all become campaigners and spread the message across the country. This is an important intervention rolled out by the President through the Ministry of Transport, and it deserves the support of every Ghanaian,” she stated.
Madam Affo-Toffey noted that many communities in her constituency and across the country rely heavily on water transportation for their daily activities, making the programme particularly important.
She cited communities such as Nzulezu and Djoe Wofe, where residents depend extensively on river transport for commerce, healthcare, education and tourism, as areas that stand to benefit significantly from the initiative.
The Jomoro MP said improved safety on inland waterways would not only protect lives but also enhance local economic activity and attract greater investment in tourism.
“What this initiative will do is save lives and enhance the livelihoods of my people. The safety component is extremely important to me because it will improve transportation, boost tourism, impact lives positively, and contribute to the development of our communities,” she said.
A key feature of the government’s safety strategy is the enforcement of a “No Life Jacket, No Travel” policy on inland waterways.
Madam Affo-Toffey pledged to champion the policy in her constituency and support nationwide efforts to ensure strict compliance with the regulations.
“As an MP, I am going to champion this cause. We will make sure the rules and regulations are followed. I appeal to everybody to respect the officers who have been commissioned and to listen to them because their work is aimed at protecting lives,” she said.
She acknowledged that the implementation of the policy could initially face resistance in some communities where life jackets have not traditionally been used. However, she expressed confidence that sustained education and engagement would help change attitudes over time.
“People have operated for a long time without life jackets, so naturally there may be some challenges getting everyone on board. But through education and continuous engagement, people will come to appreciate the importance of these safety measures,” she noted.
The Deputy Minister stressed that public education would be critical to the success of the programme, describing many water-related deaths in Ghana as preventable.
She referenced practical demonstrations conducted during the launch event, which showed how life jackets can significantly increase survival chances during accidents on water bodies.
“We saw practical demonstrations showing how life jackets save lives. It was very commendable and reinforced why this initiative is so important. Many of the deaths we record are needless and can be prevented if people take basic safety precautions,” she said.
Madam Affo-Toffey further appealed to passengers, canoe owners, boat operators and all users of inland waterways to make life jackets a mandatory part of every journey.
“It is important that everybody who travels on inland waters wears a life jacket. Not only passengers, but canoe owners and all operators as well. Life jackets save lives, and this initiative will help protect everyone who depends on water transport,” she emphasized.
The commissioning of the 200 Inland Water Safety and Regulatory Officers and the distribution of 20,000 life jackets is expected to strengthen enforcement of safety regulations and support ongoing efforts to reduce fatalities on Ghana’s inland waterways.
