The Volta Lake Transport Company Limited (VLTC) is looking forward to securing a loan facility from the Exim Bank to aid in procuring new ferries.
This was disclosed in a crunch meeting between the Legislatures and District Chief Executives of the Kwahu Afram Plains North and South Districts and the VLTC at Akosombo.
The meeting was aimed at finding solutions to the continuous breakdown and malfunctioning of the ferries on the Volta Lake and River Afram, serving as means of transportation to and from the Afram Plains region.
Passengers resorting to boats after ferry broke down
Madam Rose Appiah Okyere, Managing Director of the VLTC indicated that, the constant breakdown of the ferries could partly be blamed on the difficulty in sourcing spare parts, forcing them to salvage parts from decommissioned ferries.
The ferry on the River Afram, has broke down three times between the months of March and April 2024, leaving travelers to wander around. The situation also lead to loss of goods, especially raw foodstuffs that were being moved from the Afram Plains area to other parts of the country.
The meeting, held on Monday, April 8, 2024 was attended by Hon. Betty Krosbi Mensah (MP, Kwahu Afram Plains North), Hon. Joseph Appiah Boateng (MP, Kwahu Afram Plains South), Hon. Isaac Ofori Koree (DCE, Afram Plains North) and Hon. Evans Kyei Ntiri (DCE, Afram Plains South).
Attendees in pictures
Discussion were also held on how best to revamp the landing sites at Ekye, Agordeke and Kpando-Torkor to facilitate transportation and other services.
It is expected that, by the end of September 2024, a new and fully operational solar energy system and landing port would be commissioned at Agordeke as part of measures to enhance transportation efficiency.
