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5.3 million-dollar to revamp
the VLTC
Accra, July 24, Ghanadot/GNA - Ports, Harbours and Railway
Ministry is accessing a 5.3 million-dollar fund from the
Millennium Challenge Account to procure ferries to
revitalise the Volta Lake Transport Company (VLTC).
Mr. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, the sector Minister who
announced this on Tuesday at the Meet the Press series said
part of the funds would be used to provide training for some
staff to enhance their technical expertise to operate the
new ferries.
To double the company's capacity for fuel shipment from
Akosombo to Buipe, the Minister said the VLTC in
collaboration with the Bulk Oil and Storage Transport (BOST)
would introduce two additional tanker barges soon.
He said plans were also far advanced to construct a fuel
pipeline from Dedre to Link Buipe Port to enhance a year
round shipment of petroleum products from Akosombo to the
north irrespective of the lake level.
This project is estimated at 15 million pounds.
Mr. Ameyaw-Akumfi said the two main challenges facing the
VLTC were inadequate finance for rehabilitation of over-aged
vessels and equipment and unstable lake level leading to the
disruption of operations during drought periods of the year.
"VLTC requires re-capitalisation in order to ensure the
company's uninterrupted and continuous operations...
"A fuel shipment operation from Akosombo to Buipe usually
stops when the lake level is low (that is below 240 feet
above seal level) with vessels unable to cross the Dedre
shoals to the Buipe Port," the Minister explained.
"These and other reasons account for the Ministry’s request
for a multi frontal policy approach to revamp the VLTC's
operations and prevent it from total collapse," the Minister
said.
GNA
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