The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Afram Plains North in the Eastern Region, Nana Ofori Okodie, has assured residents that the pontoon, which has been out of service due to faulty engines, will soon resume operations. 

Speaking on the Ghana Yensom Morning Show on Accra 100.5 FM on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, Nana Okodie stated that a new engine has been procured for the pontoon, and it is expected to start ferrying goods and passengers across the Volta Lake by the end of this week. 

He mentioned that all necessary parts have been secured by the management of Volta Lake Transport.

The Lake gets flooded, its width stretches to about 5 kilometres whilst it recedes to about 3.9 kilometres during the dry season and the pontoon went missing because it was running on one engine 

Addressing concerns over the repeated breakdowns of the pontoon, Nana Okodie acknowledged the disruptions it has caused to residents, particularly in an area known as the breadbasket of the country.

 He also noted that, in addition to the ferry, the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) is set to improve some of the district’s bad roads, facilitating better business operations.

In a related development, Joseph Appiah Boateng, the Member of Parliament for Afram Plains South Constituency from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), criticized the government for neglecting the needs of the area. 

He disclosed that the MPs from both Afram Plains South and North constituencies and their DCEs met with the management of Volta Lake Transport to address the pontoon's frequent breakdowns. 

During this meeting, management revealed that they had imported five new pontoons for areas along the Volta Lake, but Afram Plains was not included due to the President’s promise to construct a bridge over the lake.

Mr. Boateng expressed frustration over the unfulfilled promise of constructing a bridge over the Afram Plains section of the Volta River, despite Parliament’s approval of a €131 million loan for the project. 

He accused the government of diverting the funds to construct an overpass at Konongo in the Ashanti Region instead.

“This government has treated the people of Afram Plains as if we are not Ghanaians. 

The government has failed to assist us,” Mr. Boateng lamented. 

He also alleged that the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) is not a new initiative, claiming that graders were acquired by the NDC’s administration for road grading were used for private gains rather than public benefit.