شايع ٿيل: 16.05.2023
The Volta Lake has gained significant importance as a transportation and trade route since its establishment. Ferry services are operated, which frequently transport people and light goods multiple times a day. Ferry connections exist between the following towns: Adawso - Ekyiamenfurom, Kete Krachi - Kwadwokrum, Yeji - Makango, and Dambai - to the northern shore of the Oti. Regular shipping to Dodi Island is conducted from Akosombo. However, as a result, the road connection from Kumasi to Tamale via Yeji lost its significance (to avoid relying on the ferry there), and the main traffic shifted to the route via Techiman and Buipe.
During my two stays in Ghana, I used the ferry several times. On the first crossing (about 20 km), we started in Kpandu, and my friends and I spent most of the time on the bridge with the captain. Suddenly, I heard screams from the passengers in the second class, and smoke clouds emerged from the wooden floor where the car of the hospital was. The captain and his team ran below deck. I stayed on the bridge and, since there was only one lifebuoy, I looked for a floatation device because hardly any of the locals could swim. Although the captain reassured that it was 'only' a burnt seal, the next problem arose. The uncontrollable ferry drifted towards the tree stumps sticking out of the water. So, one of the crew members took action and jumped into the water with a rope to secure the ferry.
After the repair, we continued to Agerdeka, where we were eagerly awaited by the head of the hospital, Vienna Dr. Mtzglich, as it was already getting dark, and the journey was becoming more and more dangerous.
Then we continued to the hospital on the Donkorkron-Kpandu Rd. It was quite an experience driving through the darkness. We only saw lights from the campfires sporadically.