As part of efforts to familiarize himself with all agencies under the Ministry of Transport, the Minister of Transport, Hon. Fifi Kwetey paid a days working visit to the Volta Lake Transport Company.
The minister, despite the warm reception he received was greeted with ominous challenges that the company needed support to address. One of such was the age old ferries that were used in the transportation of bulk cargo (solid and liquid) from the North to the South.
The Buipe Queen and Volta Queen, which are the main carriers of solid and liquid cargo from the South to the North are very old and needs to be replaced.
According to the acting Manager Director of the company, Mr. Bright Siayor, most of the company’s revenue came from their North-South services thus the need to revamp and retool so they could deliver effectively and efficiently.
“We need the ministry to assist us to enter into partnership with other companies to build extra barges, push tugs, so that we can move goods from the South to the North”
The manager alerted the minister of ongoing discussions with the Bulk Oil Storage and Transport Company Limited (BOST) to partner in the movement of fuel from the South to the North which is a main revenue provider for the company. As part of arrangements, VLTC will bring BOST’s floating dock to Akosombo.
According to the acting manager, the company has stopped transporting cargo from the North to the South due to the low levels of water on the lake. Since March 2016, the company has not been able to move cargo from the south to the North. Aside the rains not coming, the issue has been attributed to the exceeded hydro demand which has seen the lake go below the maximum level of 240 to 236 which is very worrying.
VLTC is expecting to commence their North-South services when the rains come down properly in July.
In response to these challenges, the minister has promised his ministry’s support to the company to help them remain competitive and give off the best of services.
Government have provided the company with three new ferries for ferry-crossing services and three water buses.
North-south services
Pusher tugs with cargo barges constitute pusher trains which can transport 2300 tonnes of cargo per voyage. Dry cargo namely lint cotton, cotton seeds, Shea nuts are shipped from the agricultural north to the industrial south for export or for local markets. Additionally, cement, industrial products and general cargo are shipped from south to the north. A pusher barge of 1440m capacity sails regularly to Buipe with fuel (kerosene, diesel and petrol) for markets in the Northern, Upper West, Upper East Regions and the Northern Parts of Brong Ahafo.
VLTC was set up on February 23, 1970 and incorporated under the companies code 1963, act 179 to operate as a public carrier of all forms of water-borne transport, including hovercraft for persons and/or freight on the Volta Lake. The company operates a fleet of passenger vessels, cargo ships and barges.
The company operates in two main areas, North-South Services And Ferry-Crossing Services
By David Acquah
