Check these navy officers

A story on the front page of our newspaper on Tuesday to the effect that navy officers deployed to check and stop overloading at Kete-Krachi in the Volta region to Kejeji in the Brong Ahafo region are extorting monies from boat operators in these areas is very disquieting.

WHAT is riskier about the situation is that the navy officers take monies ranging from GH¢5.00 to GH¢10.00 from the boat operators, and allow them to overload their boats. This was disclosed to the paper by boat operators in the two regions. The action of the navy officers, according to the story, is encouraging overloading by boat operators.

OUR nation has seen many innocent lives lost on the Volta Lake, as a result of overloading and in some cases un-uprooted tree stumps in the lake. Mr Moses Kwame Ponye, the District Chief Executive Officer (DCE) of Kete-Krachi west district, in an interview with TODAY ,expressed his discontentment with the attitude, especially with boat owners who although knew what was right, were always found overloading.

AGAINST this background, Mr Ponye urged the navy officers to be tough on the operations of boat operators who operated on the said routes. He further went on to assert that his outfit will be collaborating with the navy to help stem the tide of boat overloading in the area.

THE measures outlined by the district are very good practical steps, and indeed, if they are implemented to the latter, will help stem the tide of boat overloading in the reported areas. Though we are applauding the district chief executive for his proactive measures, we also think that it is appropriate the matter be taken up and investigated by the navy high command to establish the truth or otherwise of the officers detailed to save lives on the Volta Lake.

THE matter, particularly, where navy officers are believed to be condoning crime cannot be glossed over by the law enforcement agencies. We are therefore urging the law enforcement agencies to do their own discreet investigations on the matter.

ANOTHER area of concern in the story that we believe must be critically looked at is the situation where most of the passengers who used boats had no life jackets. Such a situation is not good at all and is extremely risky as their lives were in grave danger.

WE think that it is the onerous responsibility of boat owners and operators to ensure the safety and comfort of those aboard their boats. Thus, we see it as a risky adventure for boat operators in the two regions to deny their passengers life jackets.

THE practice is bad and must stop immediately if we want to save lives on the Volta Lake, where people use as passage to their hometowns, marketplaces and business.

LET us save lives by impressing upon boat operators to have life jackets for their passengers.