By
Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA
Accra, Aug. 17, GNA – The Government has
assured potential investors in the Boankra Inland Port, that it would ensure a
win-win situation therefore shortlisted bidders must bring financial and
technical expertise towards the development and operationalisation of the port.
Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, the Minister of
Transport, in a speech read on his behalf, at a bidders’ conference for the
development of the Boankra Inland Port project in Accra, said the land for the
project had been properly secured, while an administration block had been
constructed.
He said the challenge now was sourcing of
finance towards the development and operationalisation of the Port and
encouraged potential investors to take advantage of the enabling business
environment government was creating for the private sector.
The meeting was to create the platform for
interaction between Government and shortlisted bidders to know and understand
each other’s expectations and to clarify any issue identified in the project
document as well as help bidders to develop technical and financial proposals
to the Transport Ministry.
It also provided a platform for Government to
strengthen public-private partnership as a way of financing public
infrastructure projects for accelerated national development.
So far, six companies have been shortlisted
out of 29 that expressed interest to invest in the project.
The Boankra Port project is intended to
enhance the operational efficiency of the two main sea ports of Tema and
Takoradi, to bring imports and exports services closer to the door steps of
shippers within the middle belt and northern sector.
It would also serve as commercial hubs around
the inland port facility, as well as facilitate greater level of international
trade with the neighbouring landlocked countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and
Niger.
Mr Ofori Asiamah noted that transportation was
a key catalyst that promotes trade between and within nations, thereby
facilitating socio-economic growth and development.
According to him, it was for that reason
government was developing the necessary framework to create the enabling
environment for the private sector to contribute in the development of
transport infrastructure.
He said government alone could not bear the
cost of providing effective transport infrastructure, considering the
increasing demands from other sectors of the economy.
To that end, the Minister said the development
of a dry port had been identified as a key factor to improving performance in
the handling and decongestion of the existing main Ports.
Therefore, the government, through the Ghana
Shippers Authority and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority initiated a
programme to develop an inland port at Boankra, south of Kumasi.
“Government has recognised that the
realisation of Boankra Inland Port, as an integral part of Ghana’s strategic
transport network, hinges on the operationalisation of the Eastern Railway
line.
“Therefore, the Ministry of Railway
Development is also going through a similar process to develop the Eastern
Railway line to facilitate the realisation of these agenda,” Mr Ofori Asiamah
said.
Ms. Benonita Bismarck, the Chief Executive
Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority, in a presentation on the Boankra
Inland Part, outlined the investment that had already been committed into the
project.
She mentioned among other things, the
availability of voice and data network set ups and Shippers’ centre, which
would host offices, electricity, boreholes and litigation-free 400 acres of
land for the investors to leverage on for a smooth take-off.
The Boankra Inland Port is a Government of
Ghana project initiated by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority and the Ghana Ports
and Harbours Authority.
The project, upon completion, would facilitate
international trade with the neighbouring landlocked countries of Burkina Faso,
Mali and Niger.
GNA