Ferry services regular - Dr. Anane

Accra, June 30, GNA - The Minister of Road Transport, Dr. Richard Anane on Thursday said the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) had to reduce the ferry services on the Lower Volta Basin to three times a week due to low patronage. He said the GHA operates two ferry crafts, MS Sogakope and MS Okor at the Ada Marine Yard to serve communities downstream of the Akuse Dam and inhabitants in the Lower Volta Basin regularly.

Dr. Anane said this in a reply to a question by Mr. Joe Gidisu, NDC MP for Central Tongu who wanted to know what is being done to guarantee the regular and uninterrupted service of the ferries. The Minister said the main constraints facing the operations of the services are the growth of aquatic weeds, which hampers the crafts through the entangling of the propeller. He said the MS Okor plies the Ada-Amedeka route three times per week whilst the MS Sogakope serves the communities across the riverbanks on Wednesdays, which happens to be market days.

The Minister said on other days, MS Sogakope serves as a standby craft for MS Okor in case of any eventuality or breakdown. Dr. Anane said the two crafts are serviced regularly to ensure uninterrupted service to the inhabitants in the area and have been recently fitted with fixed and sliding windows. "In addition, it has been supplied with lifejackets, lifebuoys and rafters for the comfort and safety of the crew and passengers."