5.3 million-dollar to revamp the VLTC

Accra, July 24, GNA - Ports, Harbours and Railway Ministry is accessing a 5.3 million-dollar fund from the Millennium Challenge Account to procure ferries to revitalise the Volta Lake Transport Company (VLTC).

Mr. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, the sector Minister who announced this on Tuesday at the Meet the Press series said part of the funds would be used to provide training for some staff to enhance their technical expertise to operate the new ferries.

To double the company's capacity for fuel shipment from Akosombo to Buipe, the Minister said the VLTC in collaboration with the Bulk Oil and Storage Transport (BOST) would introduce two additional tanker barges soon.

He said plans were also far advanced to construct a fuel pipeline from Dedre to Link Buipe Port to enhance a year round shipment of petroleum products from Akosombo to the north irrespective of the lake level.

This project is estimated at 15 million pounds. Mr. Ameyaw-Akumfi said the two main challenges facing the VLTC were inadequate finance for rehabilitation of over-aged vessels and equipment and unstable lake level leading to the disruption of operations during drought periods of the year.

"VLTC requires re-capitalisation in order to ensure the company's uninterrupted and continuous operations...

"A fuel shipment operation from Akosombo to Buipe usually stops when the lake level is low (that is below 240 feet above seal level) with vessels unable to cross the Dedre shoals to the Buipe Port," the Minister explained.

"These and other reasons account for the Ministry's request for a multi frontal policy approach to revamp the VLTC's operations and prevent it from total collapse," the Minister said.