The government's decision to provide a subsidy of GH¢5 million per month to the Volta Lake Transport Company (VLTC) to save it from collapse has been rejected by the workers. At a meeting with workers of the VLTC in Akosombo on Wednesday, the Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah announced the decision and said government had also secured over $2 million from the World Bank to procure new engines for the company's ferries to facilitate transportation of goods and persons across the lake. But the workers who were not enthused, have kicked against the intended subsidies, saying instead of that, the government should facilitate the transportation of fuel via the lake to the northern sector of the country, adding that that would generate enough revenue for the company and render any subsidies unnecessary. Government, as a matter of policy, has divided the country into zones for the purpose of ensuring efficient and orderly distribution of petroleum products. In view of that, products for the northern sector are pumped from tank farms in the Accra Plains through pipelines from Tema to tanks at Juapong and subsequently through pipelines to tanks at Akosombo. The products are then transferred onto VLTC barges and ferried across the lake to the tank farms at Buipe. More than 70 percent of the company's annual turnover is derived from the transportation of fuel via the lake. However, in the past year, the pumping of fuel through the pipes has ceased, leaving the company in dire straits. The workers blame the situation on faceless people within government who have procured tankers and are using them to transport fuel to the north, thereby sabotaging the company. The Chairman of the VLTC Local Union, Victor Amoah, told the minister that fuel shipment had become a great challenge as tankers were carting fuel to the north by road which was against government policy. He said the government needed to intervene to stop individuals and groups from going contrary to government policy and sabotaging the company "If we are allowed to transport fuel through the lake, the subsidy of Gh¢5 million would not be necessary. We will make enough money, pay ourselves and even declare dividends to government," he said. "What" we need is not handouts. We want to be given the free-hand to work," he said. Mr Amoah urged the government to intervene to forestall any agitation by the workers. The minister denied knowledge of individuals sabotaging the company but assured the workers that the issues raised would be investigated. He acknowledged the fact that the company. was going through some difficulties but said the prospects were bright. Mr Hammah urged the management to diligently implement ail policies put forth by the ministry, be transparent, innovative, dynamic and accountable and the staff to work hard. He said the government was determined to promote lake transport as it was safer, environmentally friendly and takes pressure off the roads. He said the rail network between Tema and Akosombo would be revamped to facilitate the transportation of goods for onward conveyance to the northern sector of the country via the lake. Earlier the Managing Director of the VLTC, Mr Osei Sarpong, said the company was currently managing with only 30 per cent of its revenue and this was posing a challenge. He added that sometimes, it was difficult to pay salaries. He said the government had given a directive that all fuel to be transported to the northern sector had to be routed through the VLTC and added that the future, therefore, looked bright. He also said that the government had written off all the debts that the company owed. Source: Daily Graphic