Ameyaw-Akumfi inspects congestion at Takoradi Port

Takoradi, Jan.31, - GNA - Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Ports and Railways on Friday inspected cocoa sheds at the Takoradi Port to acquaint himself with problems posed to haulers and Port authorities as a result of congestion. Many haulage trucks have been delayed for several weeks at the port due to the problem and this is causing a lot of anxiety among drivers and truck owners.

Some of the drivers later told the Minister that they have been waiting at the port for more than three weeks for their trucks to be off-loaded. Mr. Gabriel Quayson, senior manager, warehousing and port operations of the Cocoa Marketing Company denied that the problems resulted from negligence or inefficiency.

He said it was partly due to the sudden increase in the production of cocoa and the refusal by some of the Licensed Cocoa Buying companies to adhere to regulations.

Mr. Quayson explained that all the 20 Licensed Cocoa Buying companies were given quota of cocoa to be hauled to the port at a given time but some of them have not adhered to this, thereby compounding the problem. He told the Minister that the rehabilitation of one of the sheds that was damaged by rainstorm recently is near completion.

At the moment, a ship with the capacity of 1,250 tonnes is being loaded, while another ship with the capacity of 6,500 tonnes would dock at the port on Monday.

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi spokes of plans to construct additional warehouses at the ports to forestall similar problems in the future.