When the Ghana News Agency (GNA)
went to the scene on Saturday, some of the traders, travelling to Makango in
the northern part of the country, said they had stayed at the shores of the
lake for almost two weeks.
Many of them who were using
canopy shelters were also seen happily conveyed their goods and other
belongings into the ferries berthed on the shores of the lake.
Heavy-duty articulated vehicles
that cart foodstuffs and timber logs from Burkina Faso and the northern parts
of Ghana to the south and other parts of the country as well as several saloon
cars were also sighted being conveyed into the ferries.
Barely two weeks ago, the Yapei
and Buipe bridges in the Northern Region were closed down to pave way for some
rehabilitation works to be done, and since then the lake transport had remained
an alternative route used by many drivers and traders.
As a result, hundreds of
travellers were stranded at the lake, because only one pontoon (Akrade), which
could carry less than 10 vehicles and crossed the lake thrice daily was
working.
But, last Friday, the government
through the Volta Lake Transport Company dispatched the Damen Ferry One from
Akosombo to augment the Akradi pontoon to facilitate the lake transport system
from Yeji to Makango.
More so, a team of technical
engineers from the Volta Lake Transport at the weekend successfully repaired
the “Besemuna” ferry, which has been grounded since 2015.
In an interview with the GNA,
stranded passengers, traders and the drivers commended the government for
alleviating their plight and expressed appreciation to Mr Stephen Jalula, the
Pru District Chief Executive, for his concern.
They expressed the optimism that
rehabilitation works being carried on the two bridges would be completed as
soon as possible to enhance economic activities in the country.
GNA
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