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The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has expressed grave concern over a viral social media video showing market women being transported as passengers on a fishing canoe en route to the Anyanui market in the Volta Region.
In a press release dated 7 November 2025, the Authority condemned the act “in the strongest possible terms,” describing it as a clear disregard for safety regulations and a reckless endangerment of human life.
The incident is particularly alarming following the recent canoe accident that claimed 16 lives in the Oti Region, especially as the Authority has intensified efforts to ensure compliance with safety protocols on Ghana’s waterways.
The GMA emphasised key safety regulations that the public must note:
- Fishing boats, canoes, and vessels are certified for fishing activities only and are strictly prohibited from being used for any other commercial activities, including passenger transport.
- The use of certified life jackets is compulsory for all persons aboard any boat or canoe on Ghana’s waters, regardless of the distance of travel. The Authority noted that the video suggests a complete failure to observe this non-negotiable safety standard.
The Ghana Maritime Authority stated it is working tirelessly to enhance safety on all Ghanaian waters and urged people living along coastal and inland water areas whose transport activities rely on water transport, as well as community leaders, to support the GMA’s agenda of compliance and safe water transport.
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