Make Ghana gateway to sub-region - Minister

Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHPA) and other stakeholders in the maritime industry have been asked to work harder to ensure that the country's ports become a true gateway to the sub-region in line with the Government's policy of Golden Age of Business.

Dr. Richard Anane, Minister of Roads and Transport, said this when he interacted with management and staff of GPHA and some key players in the maritime industry at Tema.

Dr. Anane said fair competition among service providers of the ports would ensure operational efficiency, facilitate trade and make Ghana the shipping gateway to West Africa.

The Minister praised the current board and Management of GPHA for striving to achieve the objectives set in 1997 by the government in the port reform policy by bringing the number of private stevedoring in the port industry from three to seven.

He assured all stakeholders from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger of Government's commitment to make her corridor a permanent gateway to their land-locked countries, and through the ongoing improvement in the road, inland water-way and rail network.

The Minister intimated that the GPHA and Ghana Shippers Council have the full backing of the government for the establishment of an inland port at Boankra near Kumasi and invited key stakeholders in the maritime sector to invest in port securities.

Earlier, the chairman of GPHA, Mr. Brian Adomako, in his welcome address said since the appointment of the board in June 2001, the members have done their best to move the GPHA forward.

He observed that though initially the Board encountered opposition from some key players, a peaceful working relationship was finally established that has ensured satisfactory services to clients in the ports.

Mr. Adomako further stated that so far the Board and Management, with the support of the Ministry, have approved about 30 development projects, which are working to raise the standards of the ports and to provide client satisfaction.