As part of the efforts to make Ghana a trans-shipment hub in the West African Sub-region, the country has initiated a $475 million port expansion project at the Takoradi Port in the Western Region.
The port has received a major boost with the commencement of construction works on the development of a multi-purpose Atlantic Terminal Services “on-dock facility”.
The first phase of the project, which was inaugurated in Takoradi on Friday, involves the construction of a 600-meter quay wall with pavement, coupled with the dredging of 14 to 16 meter deep besides it.
The project, is a joint venture between Ibistek, an ingenious Ghanaian Company and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), following the signing of a concession agreement in the year 2017, while the Royal Haskoning DHV, is providing technical advice.
The first phase, which will cost $200 million, is expected to be completed in two years.
The phase two of the project will extend key length from 600 meters to 1,495 meters. This, when completed will put the country into a very favourable position to become one of the safe and reliable place for port services in West Africa.
Speaking after the inauguration of the project, the Chairman of Ibistek, Mr. Kwame Gyan, told journalists that it was the first time such a big project was being undertaken in the country by a local company.
“This is the first time the locals are building and operating a deep seaport and we think that the capacity we have developed from project inception through execution shows out capability. Down the road, we will end up in the West African sub-region,” he said.
The Director of the Takoradi Port, Captain Ebenezer Kojo Afedzi, said that the construction of a multi-purpose terminal would help to attract over 200,000 containers to the port in the first year of completion.
Ghana has been making various moves to enhance its ports to make the country the preferred destination in terms of provision of port services. First was the expansion of the Tema Port, where most of the country’s imports were channeled, and it is expected that with the expansion of the Takoradi Port, the main export hub, the country will get the wherewithal to become the preferred destination for port services it has desired to be.
DAP/GIK/APA