A crisis is brewing in Kwahu Afram Plains North, where a faulty pontoon has disrupted travel and business across the Volta Lake.
The pontoon, which ferries people and goods between Kpando and Agodeke, has broken down over ten times, leaving thousands of residents stranded and businesses in distress.
Hon. Kpeli Worlase Esq, Member of Parliament for Kwahu Afram Plains North, has sounded the alarm, calling for urgent government intervention to provide a new pontoon or replace the faulty one entirely.
According to Hon. Worlase, the state of the pontoon has turned what should be a smooth journey into a frustrating one-way trip, with travelers often forced to find alternative routes due to mechanical failures.
The situation is further complicated by the lack of a proper landing site, which takes the pontoon three to four hours to offload and reload passengers before making another trip.
Traders lament that this delay significantly affects their businesses, as they are unable to transport goods on time.
Residents and business owners are appealing to the Minister for Transport to step in and provide a reliable solution.
“We need two pantoons to run shifts on the lake to ensure the smooth movement of people and goods,” one resident stated. “The current engine is in a terrible state, and the pontoon often overloads, posing a great risk to all of us.”
The repeated failures of the pontoon have forced many travelers to resort to using boats, despite serious safety concerns. Reports indicate that between 500 to 600 people are often crammed onto boats, raising fears of potential accidents.
Hon. Sebastian Deh, Member of Parliament for Kpando, has organized communal labor to work on the landing site for the pontoon, but residents insist that without a reliable vessel, their struggles will persist.
The situation highlights the need for urgent attention to the transportation infrastructure in Kwahu Afram Plains North, and residents are calling on the government to take immediate action to address the crisis.
