Disasters looming on Ghana’s sea as returnees enter country in canoes

There is reliable information that canoes are being used to transport Ghanaian returnees from Liberia.

These canoes which are not sea worthy have been overloading the Ghanaian returnees to berth at coastal communities in the Western region.

In an interview with GNA at Aboadze, Efua Mensiwa a returnee from Liberia said she returned to Ghana on July 27, on board a canoe that carried 150 returnees instead of the stipulated 30.

She said the canoe berthed at “Kese Wo Kan” near Abuesi in the Shama District with returnees comprising children and adults.

She said apart from the passengers, the canoe was overloaded with household items making it dangerous to sail on the high seas.

“It was by the grace of God that we survived the sea, otherwise the canoe would have capsized,” she said.

Efua Mensiwa said they were returning because Liberia would soon have its general elections and due to the heated political climate there, they were returning early to Ghana to avoid being trapped should the situation worsen.

She said more Ghanaian returnees are coming from Liberia with canoes because, it was expensive travelling with vehicles and besides, the main trunk roads from Liberia to Ghana are in poor conditions.

She said most of the canoes berth at coastal communities such as Komenda, Aboadze, Abuesi, Shama, and Axim.

When the GNA contacted the Western Regional National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) Coordinator, Mr Japheth Baidoo, he said his outfit had not received any report about the Ghanaians returning from Liberia.

He, however, promised to investigate the situation, assist those who had returned as well as seek ways of curtailing any sea disaster.

Source: GNA