Chief Executive of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), Adam Sulley, is advocating the need for an efficient lake transport system, specifically on the Volta Lake, as it will invigorate commercial activities in the savannah belt.

Besides being a cheap source of bulk transport, the SADA boss argued that an efficient lake transport system will stimulate investment in tourism and revitalise the rural economies as it will make local businesses in landlocked areas easily accessible.

“The investment potentials on and around the Volta Lake are vast and varied. When fully functioning, the waterway can cut bulk transport distance from the port by up to 500km.

“It can invigorate Kete Krachi; revitalise agriculture and make the Daboya smock industry more accessible and feed tourists to Mole Park,” he said at the launch of the 20th Ghana International Trade Fair which is being held in Tamale for the first time.

The Volta Lake Transport Company Limited, is the state institution that has been mandated to provide north-to-south water-borne transport for persons and freight on the Volta Lake. The company operates a fleet of passenger vessels, cargo ships and barges, totalling 19 sailing vessels.

The company currently provides ferry services at Yeji (Brong- Ahafo), Kete-Krachi and Dambai, both in the Volta Region and Adawaso in Afram Plains.

The ferries serve as bridges where the lake has cut across the road network services, and without the ferry services, these communities around the ferry stations will be cut off from the rest of the country.

According to Mr. Sulley, a vibrant and efficient lake transport system will provide a cheaper source of transport—cheaper than rail with bigger upstream and downstream benefits.