Hundreds of travellers who use the Senchi Ferry to cross the Oti River at Dambai in the Oti Region have been left stranded because the only ferry in the area has developed a fault.
Many travellers were frustrated with their luggage on the Dambai and Krachi banks of the Oti River.
The Senchi Ferry serves the people of Krachi East, Krachi West and Krachie Nchumuru.
People from other parts of the Northern Region also use this route, through Dambai to Accra and other parts of the country.
Among the stranded travellers was the Convener of the Krachi Youth Association, Daniel Asamoah who urged the Ministry of Roads and Highways to immediately address the situation.
“The ferry sometimes become faulty in the middle of the river. At one point in time, they [the ferre managers] had to resort to a smaller boat to offload passengers from the ferry in the middle of the river and they use these same small boats to pull the ferry ashore. As a result of this, people are now resorting to the use of smaller boats which do not even have life jackets. In fact, they risk their lives crossing with the engine boat which sometimes result in lake accidents which claim several lives.”
“So on this note, we the people of Krachi Nchumuru and its environs, as well as other well-meaning citizens who use this ferry, are appealing to the Minister to as a matter of urgency get a new and stronger ferry on the Oti River,” he urged.
Meanwhile, the Business Development Officer of the Volta Lake Transportation Company Limited, Yakubu Tanko says the Yapei Queen [ferry] has been dispatched to Dambai to help with the situation.
“The ferry had a problem so we are replacing it temporarily with the Yapei Queen. It is on its way so I’m sure by close of today [Friday], it will get to Dambai. We discussed it yesterday when we got the information so Yapei Queen is on its way.”
He continued, “They will have to be patient enough because there is nothing we can do but to bring a new ferry to come and take up the operation. We are working on it to bring another ferry to come and replace the Senchi Ferry and then we will remove the Senchi Ferry for total maintenance to be done on it.”
Dambai travellers at risk on Oti
About a year ago, it was reported that travellers who cross the Oti River at Dambai always face the risk of losing their lives due to the lack of life jackets.
These passengers then appealed to the authorities to get the boat owners life jackets to ensure their safety in case of disaster on the river.
Meanwhile, Chief Petty Officer II, Ezekiel Abdulai, the Commander of the Navy stationed at Dambai to ensure safety on the Oti River claimed that there were no jackets because procurement had delayed but however assured that plans were underway to get the boat owners these life jackets.