Committee submits report on broken down pontoon

The Committee set up to investigate the circumstances that led to the sudden breakdown of the Pontoon on the Afram Lake during last year’s Farmers Day celebration has revealed that the incidence was purely a mechanical fault. The report said though the attitude of the crew members on the said day was not the best, it found out that sabotage was highly improbable. Mr Frederick Tetteh, an assistant State Attorney, and Chairman of the committee, presented the report to the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu in Koforidua on Friday. Mr Tetteh said the committee investigated several factors before arriving at that conclusion. It would be recalled that, last year, Mr Affram Asiedu and his entourage could not cross the Afram Lake from Adawso to Ekye-Amanfrom to celebrate the regional farmer’s day due to the sudden breakdown of the Pontoon. As a result, the regional farmer’s day could not come on, since the pontoon was the only means of transportation on the lake and the Minister and his entourage were left with no option than to make a detour and join the Kwahu South District to celebrate it. The Regional Coordinating Council therefore set up the committee to investigate circumstances that led to that incidence. Members of the committee included Mr George Adjei; Regional Security Coordinator, Mr George Ocloo, Regional Director of Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Chief Superintendent Anane from the Regional Police Command and Mr Samuel Donkor, a Director at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC). The Committee, recommended that as a matter of urgency, an additional ferry must be made available, to facilitate economic activities as well as serve as an alternative transport in case of emergency. The regional Minister said he was satisfied with the work done by the committee, and assured that the recommendation would be forwarded to the sector Ministry for the necessary action. He noted that the findings of the committee would put to rest speculations that the incident was a sabotage to prevent the celebration of the farmers’ day at the Affram-Plains.