A Deputy Minister for Transport, hon. Frederick Obeng Adom, has said Inland water transport was a key component of an integrated, multi-modal link to providing cost-effective transportation for socio-economic development of many communities around the Volta Lake and long-distant transportation of bulk wet and dry cargoes in Ghana.
He said the Volta Lake was the largest man-made lake in the world covering an area in excess of 8,000 square meters, over 400 kilometers long, with a shore-line exceeding 4,800 kilometers.
He added the Volta Lake Transport Company (VLTC) provides a range of cross-lake ferry service and the communities around the lake were highly dependent on these local services, making reliability of the cross-lake ferries a major determinants of socio-economic activity along the lake.
The Deputy Minister spoke at the Stakeholders Workshop on “The Assessment (Draft Feasibility) Study for the Development of the Volta Lake Inland Water Transport System”, held at the Shippers’ Authority Hall in Accra.
Hon Obeng Adom stated, similar consultative sessions had already been held in Tamale in the Northern Region, Dambai in the Oti Region, Kpando in the Volta Region and Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
He hinted government was going to develop the eastern multimodal corridor into an efficient transport route which included rail and road links, to play the needed supportive role in the transport and logistics value chain.
“Today’s Workshop is to enable the consultant present the key findings of the assessment and recommendations for the best options and practices to be adopted by Government in developing transportation on the Volta Lake. The workshop also presents an opportunity for individuals, groups and associations to make inputs and suggestions into the Draft Feasibility Report”, he stated.
The Deputy Minister mentioned that the feasibility study for the proposed Volta Lake Improvement Project had been completed with support from the Korean Exim Bank.
Facilities to be provided under the project to facilitate transportation on the Lake included the supply of five (5) vessels, Integrated Management Systems (IMS), construction of a Slipway and a total of ten (10) landing sites with reception facilities at Yeji, Makango, Kojokrom, Kete-Krachi, Dambai, Dodoikope, Kpando-Torkor, Agordeke, Akateng and Kwame Dwamena.
He said as part of the government’s efforts to address the challenges facing water transport, a number of interventions were being implemented by the Ministry including the removal of tree stumps on the cross ferry navigable routes to reduce frequent boat accidents on the Lake as well as improve safety.
