Ministries to cooperate to provide efficient ferry services

Accra, Nov.6, GNA- The Ministries of Ports, Harbours and Railways and Energy are collaborating to provide efficient ferry services to cater for the needs of the people in the catchments area around the Volta Lake in the Kete Krachi District.

The Ministry of Roads and Transport through the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) operates ferry services on the Lower Basin (Ada to Amedeka) to ease transportation problems of the people living along the bank of the Lower Volta due to inadequate road infrastructure. Dr Richard Anane, Minister of Roads and Transport said this on Thursday in Parliament when Mr Francis Yaw Osei-Sarfo, NDC-Krachi asked what plans the ministry has to provide reliable and sustainable Pontoon services across the Volta, Oti and Dakar Rivers at Kete-Krachi, Dambai and Grubi in the Krachi Constituency.

The Minister said the operations of the ferry services resumed in May this year and has been going on smoothly.

The Ministry of Energy in accordance with the Act that established the Volta River Authority (VRA) has been supervising operations of the Volta lake transport Company (VLTC).

Nana Asante-Frempong, NPP-Kwabre asked the Minister what measures are to be put in place to ensure that there was no duplication of duties by the ministries and the Minister replied that they are supposed to collaborate and work as a team to achieve results.

Mr Seth Dankwa Wiafe, NPP-Akwapim South asked the Minister what plans the ministry has for tarring the Berekuso to Kitase road that becomes unmotorable during the rainy season.

Dr Anane said the 13.3 kilometre road is an inter-district road linking the Ga District in the Greater Accra Region to the Akwapim South District in the Eastern Region and serves as an important detour for commuters wishing to avoid the Adenta to Aburi scarp.

He said the Kwabenya to Berekuso to Kitase road was awarded on contract in 2002 but in April 2003 the scope of work was reviewed from feeder roads standard to trunk roads standard.

This involved increasing the width of the road from 8.5 metres to 10 metres, the carriageway from six metres to 7.32 metres and an increase in the thickness of the pavement.

Dr Anane said the review resulted in additional cost and reduction in the length of the road from 13.3 kilometres to eight kilometers ending at Otopram and it has now been divided into two phases. He said the review was necessary because the road serves as an alternative to Tetteh Quarshie -Madina-Adenta-Aburi-Mamfe road and it will serve as the main route to Aburi during the reconstruction of the Tetteh Quarshie-Mamfe road.

The Minister said because of the increased scope of work the completion date for the road has been rescheduled to July 2004 The second phase that covers Otopram to Kitase, a distance of 5.3 kilometres will be awarded after the completion of the first phase of the project.

Mr Brandford Adu, NPP-Okere asked why roads awarded on contract are not completed on schedule and whether it is because of lack of funds. The Minister said there are several unanticipated constraints in road construction and not only because of lack of funds.