New harbours For Jamestown, Keta

-Under next NPP government

As part of plans to reduce congestion at the Tema and Takoradi harbours, and also increase the volume of business from landlocked countries in the West African sub-region, the next New Patriotic Party government, under the presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will construct two new harbours in the country.

One will be located at Jamestown in Accra and the other at Keta in the Volta Region.

The NPP government will also spearhead the development of inland port at Buipe in the Northern Region.

The NPP has explained in its 2016 Manifesto, which was launched on Sunday, that the two harbours will be constructed through collaboration between government and the private sector.

The NPP government will also continue the expansion and modernization of the Tema and Takoradi harbours and "fully automate the process for clearing goods and vehicles, leading to reduction in port charges and fees."

Again, in partnership with the private sector, the NPP government will expand the Takoradi Habour to Sekondi.

"A logistics centre will be developed in Sekondi as part of the expansion in order to boost economic activities in the locality and its environs," the party adds in the Manifesto.

According to the NPP Manifesto, "West Africa lacks a clear maritime hub which provides an opportunity, with continuous improvement in our maritime sector, to make Ghana West Africa maritime hub."

Other projects outlined for execution in the next NPP government include the development of the Volta River into a major transportation artery "by building modern ferry ports at such locations as Buipe, Yepei, Yeji, Makango, Kwadwokurom, Kete-Krachie, Adowso, Ekyeamanfrom, Akateng, and Boso."

According to the NPP, these projects will be carried out alongside massive investments in the roads and railways sectors, to help ensure effective transportation system to boost the government's industrialization agenda.

"The lack of a modern, integrated, and well-maintained transportation infrastructure is one of the weakest links in our development. As well as deficits in the quantum of Roads, Railways, Ports, and Harbours (RRPHs), the existing infrastructure is poorly maintained and integrated, which requires an expedited and focused attention , as we aim to grow rapidly this economy," NPP states in its Manifesto.

It adds: "Between 2001 and 2008, the NPP extended the country's road network by 80%. Unfortunately, for the period between 2009 to 2016, the NDC has only been able to extend the road network by 6% at grossly inflated costs. There are still some missing links and major river crossing points that do not make the road network fully inter-connected. The proportion of the country's road network in gravel and earth surface conditions remains high at about 77%."