A rescue ferry -Yapei Queen has arrived on River Afram in Afram Plains South District of the Eastern Region to pull the stuck pontoon from offshore to onshore for maintenance.
The pontoon has stuck offshore the Afram River since Monday, February 15, 2021, at about 4:00 pm after the single-engine of the pontoon failed while sailing midway of the river.
The crew onboard the Yapei Queen ferry dispatched from Akosombo by the Volta Lake Transport company arrived Tuesday evening around 6:00 pm and are expected to tug and pull the pontoon loaded with fully loaded cargo vehicles, fuel tankers, private and commercial vehicles to safety.
The incident has caused inconveniences to many passengers and vehicles trying to cross the river. Dozens of passengers and drivers have been sleeping at the back of the river since Monday evening with few commuters risk their lives onboarding local boats to cross the river.
The engine of a ferry operating on Afram River in Afram Plains South District of the Eastern Region broke down while sailing passengers and goods on the river
The ferry was transporting scores of passengers including traders, and Cargo vehicles loaded with goods from Ekye Amanfrom towards Adawso in Afram Plains South at about 4:00 pm on Monday.
The engine stopped working after the pontoon was hit by a storm while moving on the river. It was subsequently dragged downstream by the wind to anchor on the deepest side of the river.
After hours, some local boat operators went to rescue the passengers on board the ferry to the shores of the river. However, Cargo vehicles and passenger vehicles are still stuck on the river.
The Ferry has been operating on a single-engine for the past years after the other engine damaged raising safety concerns.
Gibson Yaw Agyei Danso -Chairman of Ghana National Cargo Drivers Association who was a victim-blamed the situation on lack of urgency to concerns raised over the dangers of the ferry operating on a single-engine.
He said, “This is not the first time such an accident has happened “.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
