A technical fault has brought the pontoon ferry service on the River Oti in Dambai to a standstill, leaving hundreds of travelers and vehicles stranded for five days.
The breakdown, which occurred on Sunday, has caused significant disruptions to daily activities and businesses in the area.
However, stranded passengers and drivers have expressed frustration and disappointment with the situation.
The breakdown has severely impacted businesses, particularly those transporting perishable goods such as yams from the northern sector to southern part of the country, threatening significant losses for traders.
Some of the traders are in distress, as they fear losing their investments due to the breakdown of the ferry.
“We have been here for days, and our goods are getting spoiled, we are worried about the losses, we will incur if we did not get across the river soon”.
Stranded passengers and drivers are urging the government to intervene and find a lasting solution, suggesting the construction of a bridge or adding a second pontoon to ensure efficient passage across the river.
Some drivers have also proposed rehabilitating the Nkwanta-Kpassa road as a viable alternative.
With the ferry out of service, some passengers have resorted to using boats to cross the river.
However, these boats lack life jackets or any life-saving equipment, raising serious safety concerns.
Mr. Prince Kwaku Nsia, who is travelling from Accra to Wulensi, said crossing the river by boat is “frightening due to the lack of safety equipment.”
Some technical teams are working to repair the fault.