Risky pontoon ferrying passengers in Afram Plains
The only pontoon on the Volta Lake serving communities in the Kwahu Afram Plains in the Eastern Region has been running on one engine instead of two for the past one year.
The pontoon serves residents in and around Ekye Amanfrom and Adawso, and has remained a risk as it operates on a single engine after one of its engines got damaged a year ago.
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Crossing from one end of the lake to the other takes about 20 minutes on two engines, but the travellers now have to endure about 40 minutes’ journey.
Many of the passengers also resort to canoes to cross the lake which is noted for its strong winds and currents.
The situation has also led to a long queue of passengers, vehicles and goods on either side of the lake.
Community members fear it is a threat to life and property, and have appealed to the government to fix the pontoon.
Experience
A driver, Mr Willams Kabena, told the Daily Graphic at Ekye Amanfrom that on February 15 this year, passengers had a terrible experience when they were being ferried from Ekye Amanfrom to Adawso.
“The strong wind directed the ferry to the other side and got all the passengers stranded. We, the drivers, could not go anywhere, so we stayed here for three days before another pontoon was dispatched from Akosombo to rescue the stranded passengers and their goods,” he said.
“This ferry was brought here about six years ago, and this has been our only means of transport, especially for those who transport goods to and from Afram Plains. As for the passengers, they have other options such as using the small boats,” he added.
Mrs Mary Bonsu, a trader, said on that occasion, she lost all her capital because she could not preserve her fish when passengers on the ferry were swept to the wrong end of their journey, making the fish to go bad.
Challenges
The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Kwahu Afram Plains South, Mr George Ofori, said he was aware of all the challenges the drivers and passengers were going through, and added that arrangements were being made for the construction of a bridge to ease transportation in the area.
He, however, asked the public to be patient with the government on the matter.