Gov’t engages stakeholders to deploy inland ports

The Government of Ghana is engaging local and foreign stakeholders to raise resources for the deployment of inland ports to reduce pressure on the Tema and Takoradi harbours, and the roads.

This forms part of Government’s programme for a massive improvement in the nation’s transportation system to further open up the economy, create decent and well-paid jobs and reduce post harvest losses.

Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, made the announcement during a courtesy call on him on Wednesday, by the Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, Hans Docter, at the Flagstaff House in Accra.

The Vice President explained that the construction of an integrated transport system would also facilitate and position the country as transport hub in the sub-region for the transportation of goods and services to the market centers and especially to neighbouring landlocked countries.

In pursuit of this, government has been undertaking massive road construction and rehabilitation and expansion of the Tema and Takoradi harbours.

The railway sector would also be tackled to play its needed role in the economy.

The Vice President appealed to the Netherlands to support the government with expertise, especially in the area of port management and in the oil and gas sector.

He invited Dutch investors to explore opportunities in the area of agro processing and aqua culture, explaining that the rising expectations of Ghanaians make it also imperative for the government to pursue this policy since many farmers lose their produce on the farms for the lack of motorable roads.

In addition, the absence of an integrated transport system is a major loss of revenue to the government.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur said Ghana has chosen the path of democracy, and the Government, together with the people are determined to entrench it.

Mr Docter pledged that the Netherlands would support Ghana with training in port management to reduce drastically the bureaucracy and delays associated with the transaction of business at the ports.

He said the Netherlands is willing to establish a training school in Ghana for this purpose.

Mr Docter praised Ghana's democracy, describing it as a shining example in Africa.