A ferry breakdown has left numerous passengers and truck drivers stranded on both banks of the Oti River in the Krachi East and Nchumuru districts. The incident has also tragically resulted in the death of Kofi Twee, an employee of Volta Lake Transport Services in Dambai. Twee was attempting to repair a fault when he was caught by the ferry’s propeller, leading to his death.
Passengers and commuters attempting to purchase tickets for ferry services between Dambai and Dordoe-Korpe on Saturday were met with an unpleasant surprise as they could not access the service. Consequently, many resorted to using boats as the only alternative to continue their journey across the Oti River.
Daniel Andy Peprah-Agyei, the Public Relations Officer of Volta Lake Transport Services, informed the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the ferry experienced an electronic steering fault during its journey on Friday and was unable to dock properly. Authorities have arranged for the ferry to be towed from Dordoe-Korpe to Dambai, and engineers are currently working to resolve the issue.
Peprah-Agyei mentioned that all stranded vehicles would likely be able to cross later in the day, and he was hopeful that the ferry would resume full operations by Saturday or Sunday. The GNA observed that a variety of vehicles, including Vision buses, Metro Mass Transit buses, tipper trucks, cargo trucks, and many cars, were left waiting on both sides of the river.
The Oti River, an extension of Volta Lake, serves as the shortest route from northern Ghana through the Oti Region to the south. Most commuters are farmers transporting crops such as millet, beans, maize, cassava, yam, and rice to markets in Dambai, Banda, Borae, Chinderi, Kete-Krachi, and beyond.
Meanwhile, some boat operators are taking advantage of the situation, as they work tirelessly to accommodate the increased traffic.
Source: GNA
