A Deputy Minister for Transport, Hon. Fredrick Obeng Adom has said, the Volta Lake was a strategic transport system that promotes socio-economic activities for many communities along the Lake. It was also one of the viable options that provides tactical and economical long distant transportation of bulk wet and dry cargoes in Ghana.
The Deputy Minister speaking at a stakeholders’ consultation forum on the outcome of the feasibility study for the development of the Volta Lake, noted that, in spite of the huge socio-economic potential of the water resource, which was one of the key transportation systems in Ghana, the Lake in recent times had been experiencing some challenges, including the existing vessels and landing stages being in poor conditions.
He added that, port operations were poorly equipped to handle existing shipments whilst several unregulated boats providing informal services for passengers and goods had poor records of safety and increasing the death toll of passengers.
Hon. Obeng Adom stated, it was for this reason the Ministry with support from the World Bank, under the Transport Sector Improvement Project (TSIP) engaged the services of Messrs Vision Consult, in a joint Ventureship with KPMG Ghana, to undertake a comprehensive assessment (feasibility study), for the development of the Volta Lake Transport System.
He urged partners and stakeholders in the industry to come up with further suggestions and recommendation based on the findings of the consultant after a comprehensive review of the document on the feasibility study.