Govt procures five vessels to augment transportation on Volta Lake

The government has procured five vessels to carry passengers, goods and vehicles across the Volta Lake. The vessels include three fast-moving boats, one of which has already arrived at Akosombo, and two ferries.

President John Mahama, who announced this at the inauguration of a new maternity clinic for the Presbyterian Hospital at Donkorkrom, said the remaining vessels would arrive later.

The vessel that was already in town will operate between Kpando-Torkor at the Volta Region end of the lake and Amankwa Tornu in the Eastern Region.

The two ferries, the President said, were in Holland awaiting delivery to Ghana.

The absence of a well-conditioned passenger boat on the lake has compelled the people to rely on rickety boats, leading to a number of accidents, with many people losing their lives.

Economic importance

President Mahama noted that the Afram Plains area was important to the economic development of the country, particularly in food production, and as such nothing would be left to chance to advance the progress of the area.

Following the systematic development the area was receiving, he said, many workers were now ready to accept posting there.

That was not to say the government was going to lax, he said, indicating that it was going to do everything to build on what had been achieved, especially in the agricultural and infrastructure sectors.

Maternity clinic

The maternity clinic, said to be the biggest in the Eastern Region, was financed by the Presbyterian Church, in collaboration with the government. 

Its construction started in 1999 but it was abandoned after the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lost power in 2000.

When the late Prof. Mills became President after the 2008 elections, the chiefs appealed to him to help complete the project and funds were consequently released for the purpose.

Maternal health care

President Mahama spoke about efforts being made to reduce maternal deaths in Ghana, which now stand at 351 deaths per every 100,000 live births.

He said the situation, though an improvement over what pertained in the last few years, was still unacceptable and urged pregnant mothers to make use of antenatal clinics.

Before inaugurating the project, the President inspected work on a science and a dormitory block under construction at the Donkorkrom Senior High School.  

Antenatal services

The Minister of Health, Ms Sherry Ayittey, urged pregnant mothers to attend antenatal clinic, as the services were free.

She said the government’s agenda was to take healthcare services to the remotest parts of the country.

The minister said doctors and nurses’ accommodation would be constructed at the hospital.

The Chief of Donkorkrom, Nana Akuamoah Boateng Tano, pledged the support of the chiefs and people of the area to the President to enable him to do more for the area.