TAKORADI PORT TO BE TRANSFORMED (BACK PAGE, APRIL 16, 2010)

THE Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has designed a master plan for the redevelopment and expansion of the Takoradi Port to transform it into a modern and vibrant one to meet the challenges of the emerging oil and gas industry.
The Board of Directors and management of the GPHA has already discussed and approved the plan, which would be implemented in three phases.
The first phase, involving a detailed engineering design, is estimated to cost US$150 million, while the second phase will consist of marine works, with the third phase covering both marine and civil works.
The weakness of the Takoradi Port, which was constructed in 1928, include shallow berths, low operational productivity, land space limitation and imbalance of cargo.
A stakeholders’ forum on the proposed expansion of the port has been held in Takoradi. A presentation on the development proposals for the port was made for the public to make comments and ask questions on the project.
At the forum, the Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, said the ministry had a significant role to play in the successful exploitation of the oil and gas industry.
He explained that it was for that reason that the ministry and other stakeholders held a major transport sector conference in Accra in July, last year, for all the agencies under the ministry to understand fully their respective roles in the oil and gas exploration to prepare them for the challenges ahead.
Mr Hammah said the Ministry of Transport was aware of the maritime demands of the oil exploration and production, including the gas by-product, and was determined to meet those demands.
He said the situation now, where services needed by oil companies were being provided by existing oil service facilities in Abidjan, could not be allowed to persist forever.
The minister said the master plan for the expansion of the two main ports of Tema and Takoradi had been developed since 2001 and was expected to be implemented in phases but the current situation underscored the need for the ports, particularly that of Takoradi, to respond quickly to emerging demands.
The Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Mr N.P. Galley, said the Takoradi Harbour had seen only one major expansion in the 1950s since it was built in 1928.
The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Busumtwi-Sam, said the expansion of the Takoradi Port was long overdue.
She said it was important to expand the port because of its strategic location as far as the oil production was concerned.