ACCRA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people were confirmed dead and two remained unaccounted for following a boat accident in northern Ghana, the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) said in a statement late Thursday.

The accident occurred on Wednesday and involved a boat carrying 14 passengers along the Volta Lake, said the GMA.

It said that the boat capsized after encountering severe weather conditions, and immediate search and recovery efforts by officials and community leaders resulted in the rescue of five males.

"However, nine persons are believed to have drowned. As of Thursday, April 9, seven bodies, comprising two females and five children, were recovered," the statement said.

It added that a dedicated team of divers from the Ghana Navy and GMA continued to search for the two remaining persons -- a woman and a child -- and investigations were underway to determine the cause of the accident. ■