A canoe carrying over 20 people from Yeji to Makango in the East Gonja District of the Northern Region capsized on Monday, resulting in the drowning of four persons.
The dead comprises of a woman and two children while the fourth body is yet to be found. Eleven persons have been rescued while the search for other missing persons continues.
According to information gathered, the canoe could carry only five people at a time, but over 20 people forced themselves into the canoe because it was late and they could not get any other canoe to carry them across the lake. Midway into the journey, the canoe capsized.
The District Chief Executive for Pru, Mr Emmanuel Opoku, said they had warned people on several occasions not to travel on the Volta Lake after 6pm.
Mr Opoku also disclosed that to prevent such disasters on the lake, life jackets have been distributed to boat operators in the area, but because they travelled beyond the limited time, they could not use the life jackets.
Chairman of the Yeji Boat Operators and Fishermen Association, Noah Kwame Sarfo said the boat that was involved in the disaster is not a registered member of the association.
Mr Sarfo advised persons who get to Yeji after 6pm not to cross the lake but sleep and cross the next day. He disclosed that members of the association all have life jackets in their boats so it is safe to travel on, The Finder reported.