Zoil Services Limited, with the collaboration of the Ministry of Transport, on Friday, presented 100 life jackets to communities living along the Volta Lake at Wusuta in the Kpando District.
The allocation is under the integrated "Life Jackets for Safe Travel" project of the Ministry, which involves education, training, technical
support and sanctions to prevent boat accidents on the Volta Lake.
Zoil, a subsidiary of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, focuses on ecological preservation of the sea shores and major river banks in addition to the
safety of water transport.
Mr Atieku Dzandu, representing the Technical Development Manager of Zoomlion, said the presentation was in response to the October 2009 Boat Accident, in the area, in which 20 lives were lost.
Mr Dzandu said Zoil's Volta Lake Enhancement Project would fail if the jackets were kept as souvenirs, stressing, they must be used and
effectively, as well.
He said Zoil Life Guards, who were currently placed at all landing sites along the Lake, would train all recipient communities on the use of
the jackets.
Mr Dzandu explained that under the project Zoil, partnering with government recruits the guards, trains them in life saving techniques at the Naval Base in Tema.
Mr Anthony Adzomani, Volta Regional Manager of Zoomlion, said with the lifeguards he expected no more accidents on that part of the Lake.
Benjamin Adeleke, Kpando District Zoil Services Supervisor, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the programme had saved the lives of about 168
travellers on the lake in recent times.
He said in one incident last month, the guards led by the Naval Officer stationed at Kpando-Torkor, rushed to save the lives of some passengers on a boat, which was taking in water while sailing between the Afram Plains and Kpando-Torkor after having been gored by a tree stump.
Mr Adeleke said initially travellers and boat owners resisted the overtures of the guards to get them to do the right thing but they were now conforming.
Asafoatse Kabu, a local opinion leader, was grateful for the jackets saying, it was a good example of what private and State collaboration could do.
Agbeko Amekuadi, a resident of the area, said the Wusata banks of the Lake link many communities beyond the bank, including the busy
Tongor-Dzemeni fish and vegetable market.
He said the jackets, with the presence of the Zoil Guards along the banks, were reassuring especially while travelling the three-hour journey to Tongor-Dzemeni.