MP justifies youth seizure of ferry for Yeji

The Member of Parliament for Afram Plains North, Betty Nana Effua Mensah, has thrown her support behind youth of Agordeke in the Eastern Region for preventing a ferry from being taken to Yeji to ease congestion at the ferry station.

Youth of Agordeke on Wednesday stopped authorities from prosecuting government’s directive to have a ferry sent to Yeji in the Brong Ahafo Region to help in the transport of stranded passengers and vehicles.

They seized the keys of the ferry and went aboard in what an officer of the Volta Lake Transport Company described as a siege.

In an interview on 3FM, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP said the youth cannot be blamed because “this decision was taken without any consultation”. According to her, the situation was going to slow down economic activity in the area.

‘Robbing Peter to pay Paul’

The congestion at Yeji has been caused by the closure of bridges at Yapei and Buipe in the Northern Region for repair works.

As part of emergency measures, government wanted more ferries to be taken to the Yeji ferry station, which has become the sole hub of transportation on the eastern corridor.

Ms Mensah says the government directive to take away the ferry at Agordeke gives indication that economic activity in the Eastern Region town is not a priority.

This, she says, is what the youth are fighting against.

“You cannot rob Peter to pay Paul,” she stated.

Assembly member of Donkorkrom in the Afram Plains North Constituency Yaw Didieye said the government will be risking lives if the only ferry is taken away as residents will resort to boats as a means of transportation.

This could lead to disasters as most residents do not have life jackets, he observed.