Worlase Kpeli, Member of Parliament for Afram Plains North, has raised concerns over the prolonged breakdown of the ferry on the Volta Lake, describing it as a serious risk to commuters and the local economy.
Speaking on the Channel One Newsroom on Monday, November 17, MP Kpeli noted, “It is not about the people of Agodeke, it is the people of Afram Plains North because that is the only means by which most of the commuters into Volta and other parts of the country can cross the Volta Lake.”
The ferry has been out of service for almost six weeks, forcing residents and traders to rely on wooden boats.
These alternative means of transport are unsafe, particularly during high tides or when navigating obstacles in the water.
“The boat is not safe at all. Once the tides are high or hit tree stamps, it can just give off, and that is the end of everyone,” MP Kpeli said.
He added that previous repairs have been temporary. “When I took office, anytime it gets broken, I have to run to Akosombo and meet the engineers. Sometimes they will say it is the shaft, they will come and repair it, three days, one week, it gets broken again.
“We’ve been going to and fro, and some talks with the MD say the government is trying to procure a new one, but as to when is what nobody knows. We don’t know when this ferry will be fixed.”
The Afram Plains North area, a major agricultural hub in Ghana, depends heavily on the ferry for transporting farm produce, vehicles, and people. Residents and traders have described the situation as dire and have called on the government and the Volta Lake Transport Company to provide a lasting solution.
The current ferry, commissioned in 2016 by former President John Dramani Mahama, has been the safest mode of transport on this route until the recent breakdown. Local chiefs and advocacy groups have also highlighted the need for urgent action, citing the tragic 1995 Afram River accident that claimed about 140 lives on a similar route.
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