President visits Takoradi port to assess ongoing works

President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday paid a brief working visit to the Takoradi Port to acquaint himself with the progress of expansion works after cutting the sod late last year.

The Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Mr. Richard A. Y. Anamoo took the president round the port to show him some of the facilities being constructed.

The expansion works became necessary in the wake of the oil and gas find, off the coast of Cape Three Points in the Western Region, and its attendant increase in activities at the port.

The expansion includes deep draft berthing facilities for vessels, plant and equipment for oil services, office accommodation for the oil companies, open and covered storage facilities for the production materials, and free zone area for production materials, reclamation of parts of the sea, and the collapsing of cocoa sheds among others, all to create more space for port operations.

The completion of the project would facilitate quick turnaround time, good security, efficient cargo handling and delivery, as well as competitive tariffs.

It would also promote good and efficient road truck services, social and industrial stability, good customer service, strategic location for transit activities, and rail link to mineral and forest zones in the region.

The president entourage included the Western Regional Minister, Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo and his Deputy, Mr. Alfred Ekow Gyan, Mr. Isaac Adjei-Mensah, Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways and some party functionaries.