Parliament has summoned the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, and the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, to appear before the House next week following the tragic drowning of seven students from Lawra Senior High School in the Black Volta.
The heartbreaking incident occurred on June 13, 2025, while the students were attempting to cross the river — a stark reminder of the life-threatening transportation challenges faced by communities that rely heavily on water travel.
The ministers are expected to address the alarming absence of life jackets and the broader safety lapses affecting residents along the Volta River and other inland waterways.
The summons came during a parliamentary sitting on Tuesday, June 17, after Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor made a formal proposal. His motion received the immediate backing of Second Deputy Speaker Andrew Asiamah Amoako, who underscored the urgency of the matter.
“If we can look at the budget of the Interior Ministry so that a certain portion of their budget will be allocated to take care of this emergency. “It is very critical,” the Deputy Speaker emphasised.
Given the Volta River’s geographical relevance to the incident, Energy Minister John Jinapor’s appearance is aimed at enabling a more holistic discussion around safety interventions for riverine communities.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Lawra, Bede Ziedeng, made a heartfelt appeal to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council, and the Lawra Municipal Assembly to provide emergency supplies of life jackets to avert further tragedy.
“I appeal to NADMO, the Regional Coordinating Council and the Lawra Municipal Assembly to come to the aid of Lawra SHS and the bereaved families,” he stated.
Mr Ziedeng also pledged a personal donation of ten life jackets and called on Parliament to take urgent legislative steps to prevent future loss of life in water-dependent areas.
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