Kpando–Afram Plains Pontoon Grounded Over 7-Months
…Passengers Packed into Wooden Boats Like Sardine
Disturbing reports picked by THE ARCHIVES indicate, residents and traders traversing the Volta Lake between Kpando-Torkor and Agordeke in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District are facing a growing transport crisis, as the only pontoon servicing the route has been out of operation for over seven months.
The pontoon, which was procured years ago, reportedly broke down due to engine failure and has yet to receive any significant repair or replacement.
The vessel’s prolonged inactivity, has forced passengers to rely on overloaded wooden boats and canoes powered by small outboard motors, creating what locals describe as a “nightmare” journey across the lake.
Passengers report that the wooden boats often carry numbers far beyond safe capacity, stacking people and goods together like “canned sardines,” raising serious concerns about the risk of capsizing and potential loss of life.
Traders and market women who frequently ply the route say, the situation has disrupted business, delayed transports, and added significant costs to their daily activities.
“It has been chaotic and dangerous,” one market trader told THE ARCHIVES. “We are forced to squeeze into small boats with our goods, fearing for our lives every time we cross.
Sometimes, the boats operators sometimes refuse to take more passengers, leaving people stranded for hours.”
Despite repeated calls for intervention, it remains unclear whether the Transport Ministry or local authorities are aware of the situation.
Some residents claim attempts to reach officials regarding the pontoon’s repair have gone unanswered.
Those familiar with the situation warned that, prolonged reliance on unsafe wooden boats could have disastrous consequences, especially during the rainy season when the lake’s waters become unpredictable.
They are urging government action to either repair or replace the pontoon immediately, citing public safety as a top priority.
The ongoing neglect of the Kpando-Afram Plains pontoon underscores broader concerns about the state of passenger ferry services in Ghana, where critical infrastructure is often left to deteriorate, putting lives and livelihoods at risk.
