Ghana Needs Extra Ports - Mike Offei

A revered Economist, Mr. Michael Yaw Offei, has called on the government to add on to the country’s already existing ports as a strategic way of opening the economy up and creating more jobs.

In an exclusive interview at his residence in Tema Community 6, Mr. Mike Offei, who has worked with both the World Bank and the IMF said that expanding the port is a strategic move that the government can make in order to attain first world status by 2029.

“If we say that by 2029, we aim to become a developed nation, then it is vitally crucial that we increase the capacity of our ports, and by this I do not mean just expansion, but actually increasing the number of ports,” Mike Offei said.

Currently the country has got two major ports, in Tema and Takoradi.

These Ports are a major contributor to the country’s economy. In keeping with its aim to upgrade Ghana into developed country by 2029, the government has been revamping the port infrastructure and also undertaken many port projects.But according to Mr. Michael Yaw Offei, who is also a retired Diplomat, revamping is not enough to make Ghana’s ports propel the country from a lower middle-income status to a developed one by 2029.

“We need additional ports; there used to be talks about a port for Keta, what happened to that?” he asked rhetorically.

Currently, the Port of Tema is the nation’s principal port address, receiving 70% of the country’s sea trade traffic.

This is followed by the port of Takoradi.Apart from international trade, these ports also serve as infrastructure for the transhipment of cargo to and from the country’s northerly neighbours, such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.Mr. Yaw Offei urged the government to embark on massive expansion and infrastructural improvements but called for more ports.

“The Golden Jubilee terminal at the Tema Port is very commendable, however, it remains a fact that the Tema port continues to attract increased volume in container traffic; the same can be said of the Takoradi port which has seen a spur in shipping operations due to oil find nearby.

“These Ports do not only need expansion, but complimentary ports for the extra volumes,” Mr. Mike Offei, who takes delight in playing lawn tennis said.