Makango (N/R), March 7, GNA - The ferry plying between Yeji in the Brong Ahafo Region and Makango in the Northern Region has been operating on only one engine for over a year.

A source close to the Volta Lake Transport Company Limited (VLTCL), operators of the ferry, told the GNA in an interview at Makango in the East Gonja District on Friday that one of the two engines of the ferry had broken down for over a year now.

The source said operating the ferry on a single engine posed a serious danger to travellers.

The source, which pleaded anonymity, told the GNA that the situation had arisen because neither the Ministry of Energy nor the Ministry of Harbours and Railways was certain as to who should take the oversight responsibility of the ferry and its operations. It said on Thursday February 28, 2008, the ferry developed a fault and could not dock at Makango. It took the intervention of fishermen, who used ropes to draw it ashore.

According to the source, authorities at the VLTCL at Akosombo in the Eastern Region were in consultation with the two Ministries to ascertain where the Company belonged.

The source said the ferry had never been rehabilitated since its acquisition in 1968, adding: "It was only painted in the early 1980s" and due to the engine problem, the ferry now plies once a day at a slow pace instead of the twice daily routine services from Makango to Yeji. The source indicated that all those working on the ferry were doing so at their own peril adding that they could not complain for fear of losing their jobs and appealed to the Ministry responsible to address the problem to avert any disaster.

Mr William Agbenyenu, Captain of the ferry, confirmed the engine problem but explained that the authorities were taking measures to rectify the situation.

Asked whether the single engine posed any threat to lives on the water, he answered simply: "We pray to God that nothing happens." Mr Amadu Musah Abudu, East Gonja District Chief Executive in an interview with the GNA at Salaga, called for the withdrawal of the ferry to prevent any catastrophe.

He said the engine problem was reported to the District Assembly and he consequently contacted the Volta River Authority (VRA) at Akosombo about the problem with the ferry and the danger it posed, but they failed to act on it.

Mr Abudu said though the suspension of the operations of the ferry would cause hardships to the people of Salaga, it was better for them to suffer the long distance travel to their communities through Tamale than to perish on the Lake.

He said the East Gonja District Assembly was ready to collaborate with the VLTCL to address the problem.

Speaking to GNA in a telephone interview from Akosombo, Mr Abdulai Iddrisu, Commercial Manager of VLTCL, said indeed the ferry had been operating on a single engine since two years ago.

He said two other ferries operating at Dambai in the Northern Region and Adawso on the Afram Plains were also operating on single engines.

He said Chief Engineers are on board the ferries to maintain them regularly, adding that purchasing of new engines have been captured under the 2008 Budget.

Mr Iddrisu expressed the hope that the necessary funds would be provided to refit the ferries this year.