As of the time of filing this report, more than 200 vehicles, some loaded with goods, had been stranded for days, waiting to be given the green light to cross to the other side of the river.

Some motorists who spoke to the Daily Graphic indicated that they had spent more than three days in a long queue without getting the chance to cross to the other side.

The Yeji-Makango route is one of several others suggested by the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) as alternative routes for motorists following the closure of the Buipe and Yapei bridges.

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Station officer

The Yeji Station Officer of the Volta Lake Transport Company (VLTC), Mr Bright Josiah, said the situation had arisen because “we were not informed to put in place contingency measures before the closure of the two bridges”.

“As of now, I can count about 200 vehicles lined up, even though more vehicles are still arriving,” he said.

According to him, only one ferry was currently operating between Yeji in the Brong Ahafo Region and Makango in the Northern Region.

“Depending on the weight and sizes of the vehicles, the ferry can take about 12 or 13 of vehicles on each trip,” he said.

Trips

Mr Josiah explained that before the current situation came up, the ferry was making at most two trips a day, but “we have been compelled to make three trips a day, even though that is not sufficient to solve the problem”.

He stated that a water bus, which could carry 48 passengers, was available to ferry the passengers.

Remedial measures

The station officer said the management of the VLTC was making frantic arrangements for the release of another ferry from Kpando in the Volta Region which would arrive today to ameliorate the situation.

In addition, a technical team would arrive from Akosombo today to repair a break-down ferry to ensure that all passengers and goods were ferried more quickly each day.

According to him, security had been beefed up to ensure the safety of passengers, vehicles and cargo which had piled up at the Yeji bank of the Volta River.

Mr Josiah said vehicles carrying petroleum, pharmaceutical products, as well as perishable goods such as foodstuffs, were being given special preferences to ensure that the goods did not go bad and for the avoidance of any explosion in the petroleum products.