Member of Parliament for Akan, Engineer Yao Gomado, has revealed how he led efforts to repair an abandoned ferry in Dambai, a development expected to support the construction of a proposed bridge in the area.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News, the MP, who is also a marine engineer with over 23 years of experience in Singapore, explained that the restored ferry will play a key role during the construction of the bridge, which President John Dramani Mahama is seeking to build.
According to him, the ferry had been in a deteriorated condition and grounded for about 12 years without servicing, leading to calls from some quarters for a complete engine replacement.
However, Ing. Gomado said he opposed that recommendation, arguing that marine engines are rarely replaced entirely and can often be repaired at a much lower cost.
He noted that replacing the engine would have cost approximately $2.5 million, but maintained that the fault could be fixed at about a third of that amount—a position the government eventually accepted.
“Saying that, I had to demonstrate that I can actually fix the engine,” he said.
To ensure accuracy, he contacted the engine’s manufacturers, who flew in a procurement engineer from Senegal to assist with diagnosing the problem.
Despite the ferry’s prolonged period of disuse, the team identified the fault within two days.
“On the second day, we found the problem, started the engine and I sailed it for about 1.5 kilometres on the water,” he recounted.
Ing. Gomado emphasised that the restored ferry will now be instrumental in facilitating movement and logistics during the construction of the proposed bridge, while saving the state millions of dollars in potential replacement costs.
