A third commercial port in the Keta municipality remains a major priority on the itinerary of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA). The board and management of GPHA have expressed commitment to ensuring that due processes are followed to see to the successful construction and operationalisation of the port project.
While the project is in its environmental and social impact assessment stage, the authority has commenced the construction of an administration block for the port project before selecting an appropriate investor to build and operate the main port.
Indeed, construction of this administration block is underway, and management and the board have expressed satisfaction with the progress made following their visit to the project site last week Thursday.
“I believe that by the time this project is completed GPHA would have made arrangements for the start-up of the port itself. With the completion of the environmental and social impact assessment, many companies have expressed interest and it is our hope that the interest will be translated into people actually bidding to do the job”, the Board Chairman, Isaac Osei said.
“We are happy with the progress they are making. It is unfortunate their original designs had to change when they came to the ground but we are all together in this to make sure the project succeeds. Just like the Board Chairman said, this is a project for everybody in Ghana, and even our neighbours. The port will be of great advantage to everyone, including economic operators who have to cross the Togo border and all its protocols to pick their cargos at Tema,” the Director General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Michael Luguje added.
On his part, Dr. Alexander Adusei Jnr reiterated that “this project has never been an event, it has been a process. We have completed feasibility and environmental impact assessment and we are waiting for approval. Once these two things come together then we will have a viable project to move forward with.”
“Six companies have shared their interest and we are very hopeful that once EPA approves and access is granted, those who have genuinely expressed interest will now give us formidable investment package to proceed with the development of the of the port itself”, he added.
The five-storey Keta Port Administration Block, when completed, will sit on a 3,800-square-meter area. It is in its piling stage to ensure the building withstands the geological conditions of the area.
PSB Realty Limited is the on-site contractor for the Keta Port Admin Block.
