A group photograph of the GPHA board with Torgbui Sri III and
Volta Regional Minister
The Director General of the Ghana Ports and
Harbours Authority (GPHA), Michael Achagwe Luguje, has revealed that 19 international
firms have expressed interest in the construction of the Keta Port Project in
the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region.
He did not give the names of the companies and
their countries of origin but noted that an evaluation team had assessed the
proposals of the firms and shortlisted the number to seven.
The GPHA expects the seven to present a
detailed proposal comprising a technical report on how each of them intends to
undertake the project. These proposals would be evaluated by the team based on
the interest of Ghanaians before one is chosen to undertake the project.
Mr. Luguje disclosed this in Keta when the GPHA
Board Chairman, Peter Mac Manu, and the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald
Yaw Letsa, paid a courtesy call on the Awomefia of the Anlo State, Torgbui Sri
III, to introduce the Director of Keta Port, Dr. Alexander Adusei, to him. The
team also visited the site earmarked for the multi-million project which is
located at a Keta community called Kedzi.
The Director General said all things being equal, the construction of Ghana’s third port would begin towards the end of 2020.
Mr. Manu said the President had shown his
commitment towards the Keta Project by backing it with an executive instrument.
He assured the people that persons who would be affected by the project would
be appropriately compensated. He added that the Director of the Keta Port, Dr.
Adusei, had been appointed to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
Torgbui Sri III and the Dufia of Kedzi, Torgbui
Joachim Acolatse V, commended government and the GPHA for fulfilling their
promise of a port in Keta. It is expected to attract investments and create
jobs for the youth. They assured government that all citizens of the Anlo State
would support the project and protect the site from encroachment.
The GPHA team also said the Keta Port was different from the jetty that Diamond Cement wanted to construct in the area, and that the authority was in talks with the company to consider constructing its jetty within the Keta Port.
From Fred Duodu, Keta (k.duodu@yahoo.com)
