Tema and Takoradi ports to receive facelift – Transport Minister

Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister of Transport, has said the country’s two main ports – Tema and Takoradi, will be modernized to position them as the leading container hubs in the West African sub-region.

“There has been a lot of investment in the country’s two main seaports of Tema and Takoradi to modernize and position them as the leading container hubs and the beacon of trade and industry in the West African sub-region,” he said.

Mr Ofori-Asiamah said this when his Ministry took its turn at the Meet-the-Press series in Accra.

He said the construction of container terminals is underway with four located at the Tema port and one multipurpose terminal at Takoradi.

“At the Tema port, the construction of four dedicated container terminals will help respond to the increasing trade volumes and address infrastructure deficits.”

“The Takoradi port would also to have a facelift with the development of a Multi-Purpose Container Terminal by a Ghanaian owned company Ibistek at a cost of US$450 million.”

Mr Ofori-Asiamah spoke of plans to revamp the Tema Shipyard and Drydock, currently in a deplorable state.

“Through the assistance of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), some operational equipment was procured for the shipyard.

“The Ministry is at the final stage of negotiation for the selection of the strategic investor to partner government”, he added.

He said the goal was to take care of the increasing trade volumes, create employment and address infrastructure deficits at the ports.

He announced that the GPHA had commenced a feasibility study for the construction of a new port at Keta.

A memorandum of understanding had already been signed with Diamond Cement in that direction.

Mr Ofori-Asiamah said to help improve the safety and livelihood of the people in communities along the Volta Lake, construction and rehabilitation works are on-going at sites including Dambai and Dambai Overbank, Yeji, Mekango and Agordeke.

Source: GNA