Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwahu Afram Plains, Hon. Worlase Kpeli, has intensified calls for swift government intervention following the prolonged breakdown of the Agordeke ferry, warning that the situation poses an escalating danger to commuters, traders and school children who rely on the Volta Lake crossing.
His concerns echo the frustration of chiefs, residents and traders who have labelled the ongoing crisis as dire, especially as the ferry remains the only safe means of transport across the 23-nautical-mile stretch between Agordeke and Kpando.
The MP confirmed that discussions are ongoing between the government and the Volta Lake Transport Company regarding the possibility of securing a new ferry, though no definite timeline has been communicated.
His disclosure reflected the deepening uncertainty surrounding the restoration of safe water transport in the area.
“Some talks with the M.D say government is trying to procure a new one, but as to when, nobody knows. The road alternative is going around Koforidua back to Kwahu Adawso, where crossing Adawso is a little reliable, but it is a very long journey”
Hon. Worlase Kpeli, MP for Kwahu Afram Plains
Hon. Kpeli further explained that the 2026 Budget includes an allocation for a bridge linking Adawso to the Afram Plains. Although significant for long-term connectivity, he stressed that the bridge does not resolve the immediate danger associated with the ferry collapse.
He noted that while checks were underway to establish when construction might begin, no firm details had been provided. The lack of clarity has heightened concerns among residents who must continue depending on small wooden boats and canoes without life jackets.
Rising Safety Concerns
The ferry, commissioned in 2016 under then-President John Dramani Mahama, has been out of service for more than a month, and in some accounts nearly six weeks.
In its absence, communities are resorting to unsafe boats, exposing travellers to serious risk, especially during high tides or when navigating tree stumps beneath the water. “The boat is not safe at all. Once the tides are high or hit tree stamps, it can just give off, and that is the end of everyone,” the MP said.
These concerns are not limited to Agordeke alone, as the MP emphasised that the entire Afram Plains North constituency depends heavily on the ferry for access to the Volta Region and other parts of the country. “That is the only means by which most of the commuters into Volta can cross the Volta Lake,” he noted.
Residents and traders say previous repairs to the ferry only offered temporary relief, with recurrent mechanical faults leading to repeated breakdowns.
“Sometimes they will say it is the shaft, they will come and repair it, three days, one week, it gets broken again.” According to the MP, the pattern of short-lived repairs has left the community in a persistent cycle of uncertainty.
Local Anxiety Intensifies
The current breakdown has revived memories of the tragic 1995 Afram River disaster in which about 140 people lost their lives when a passenger boat capsized on the same Agordeke–Kpando route.
Advocacy groups, including the Concerned Citizens of Kwahu Afram Plains North, recently visited the graves of the victims to honour their memory and renew their appeal for urgent government action. Their spokesperson, Mr. Awudu Yakubu Omoro Modoc, led the call for a lasting, safe and reliable transport solution on the lake to prevent a recurrence of such a national tragedy.
The Afram Plains region remains one of Ghana’s major food baskets, relying on the ferry for the transport of farm produce, vehicles and labour. With the ferry grounded, farmers and traders have been forced into costly detours and dangerous boat crossings, threatening both livelihoods and market access.
Residents insist that the situation has become unbearable and demand immediate repair or replacement of the vessel before the farming season intensifies and school children begin their vacation travels.
As government discussions continue, community leaders maintain that only decisive action can restore confidence and ensure safety on the Volta Lake crossing. The MP’s persistent advocacy underscores the urgency, with expectations rising that authorities will prioritise a permanent and reliable solution.
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