Several passengers travelling along the Moa River in Zimmi, Pujehun District have expressed concerns over the sea worthiness of a derelict ferry that crosses passengers, goods and vehicles across the Moa River and have called for an urgent repair or replacement of the ferry with a bridge across the over 50 meters stretch across the river.
Mohamed Sesay, a trader based at Portoru said “the ferry is no longer in good working order” as it causes protracted delays” for travellers crossing the river.”
He said the ferry only accommodates two mini buses or taxis per trip which means passengers have to disembark with their luggage before crossing the river with the ferry.
Mr. Sesay explained that vehicles and passengers cramp together on the edge of the rusty ferry with no life jackets onboard and no sitting facility. He added that passengers are forced to stand or sit on the corrugated floor of the ferry to cross the river, which according to him “is very unsafe”.
Mr. Sesay maintained that the ferry is very useful as it is the shortest route from the Southern Region through Portoru to Zimmi Makpele along the Sierra Leone-Liberia border than using the costly main road from Kenema through to Zimmi.
Ansumana Mustapha, one of the operators of the ferry said the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) is responsible for the repair and upkeep of the ferry, but stated that the SLRA has not been effectively managing the ferry’s maintenance for a very long time.
He went on to explain that the ferry is over 60 years old and was provided by the British during the colonial era. He disclosed that since the SLRA took over the ferry’s operation, “it has never been effectively serviced,” he stated.
He revealed that even though crossing river Moa on board the ferry is free of charge, operators ask for tips from most of the passengers, who are paid monthly wages by the SLRA.
Mr. Mustapha called on the SLRA to ensure “a periodic maintenance of the ferry to avoid what he said was “any sea disaster involving the ferry” noting that if that should happen anytime, “the consequence in terms of death tool and destruction of properties would be devastating.”
He disclosed that a truck-load of ‘garri’ recently plunged into the river damaging the vehicle and its content spoilt in the river. Also, he said another taxi also plunged in to the river when it slipped off the edge of the ferry and properties worth millions of Leones were destroyed.
He therefore suggested that government should move to construct a bridge across the Moa River to ease the constraints faced by travellers in that part of the country.
He said the ferry has not light mechanism and because of that it stops operation at 7pm and commences at 8am. The ferry is still pulled by ropes tied the edges of the river and pulled over by the operators.
He appealed to SLRA to support the ferry operators with protective gears like gloves and life jackets in case of accidents.
By Saidu Bah
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