Since Saturday, March 25, passengers who use the ferry at Dambai have been stranded at both ends of the oti river due to the malfunction of the ferry with the name Nana Besemuna.
Due to the circumstances, commuters are now forced to cross the oti river in overcrowded boats without any safety precautions.
The only way to reach both ends of the oti river at Dambai in the oti region is via the ferry known as Nana Besemuna.
It serves as a crucial connection between the southern and northern regions of the nation.
Every day from morning to evening, ferries carrying people and cargo, primarily food, cross the river Oti.
The most recent ferry at Dambai, called Nana Besemuna replaced the previous ones such as Ndewura Gyakpa, Yapei Queen, and a smaller one used at Senchi during the most recent adomi bridge reconstruction, is.
Residents and frequent travellers claim that since it was introduced to the area, this specific ferry, the Nana Bsemuna, has never been dependable.
Commuters are forced to use highly unsafe boats and canoes to cross to either side of the river without lifejackets due to the current situation, which has resulted in long lines of vehicles at both ends of the river.
Those who own vehicles would have to travel back via lengthy routes, such as Kpandai, Welensi, Damanko, and Nkwanta end onwards, or they could go to Kete-Krachi and take the ferry to the brong ahafo region.
At either end of the river oti, there is annoyance and rage.
This is the second time in a week that the ferry has malfunctioned.
The first incident happened on March 20 but technicians were able to quickly resume normal operation.
The Need for Bridge
Dambai is one of the three links between the Northern and Southern parts of the country.
The other two are the Kumasi highway and the infamous eastern corridor roads, which many considered a longer distance to cover compared to the Dambai road, considering their final destinations.
A bridge across the Oti river at Dambai has been a pressing need for the people even long before the creation of the Oti region
They contended the delay in constructing a bridge to link the Northern and Southern sectors of the country remains a major setback for socio-economic development of the area and beyond.
Aside from the time spent in waiting for the ferry schedules, the constant breakdown of the river as well as vehicles slipping into the river are other setbacks.
Additionally, the operation schedule of the ferry between 6am and 6pm is a major concern.
Drivers looking at their distance from the Oti river at are often compelled to speed needlessly in abide to catch-up with the last ferry of the day.
They do so to avoid the risk of passing the night at the banks of the river, a situation which sometimes result in occasional avoidable accidents.
The construction of a bridge across the river as the preferred choice, became a major political campaign promise during the 2016 electioneering by both the NDC and NPP.
The need became even more profound when Dambai was made the capital of the Oti region.
President Akufo-Addo has on numerous occasions assured the people of the fulfilment of the promise.
But none of these promises saw the light of day six years into his reign as president of Nkrumah’s Ghana.
Not even a colourful sod cutting and the heaping of laterites along the landing beach culd help change the matters.
And the youth and people of Kete-Krachie led by a pressure group ‘give a listening ear to Krachie’ say it was time to act.
The held series of protect in the run up to the 2020 election.
Leading member of the group, Daniel Kwesi Nkrumah, wants the Akufo-Addo led NPP government to deliver on its promise to the 52 communities in the area.
The Krachiwura and president of the Oti regional house of chiefs, Nana Mprah Besemuna, the third bemoaned what described as ”the unfair treatment.”
They want all Ghanaians to join them pressure government to do the needful.
By Peter Quao Adattor
