Takoradi, Feb. 11, GNA 97 The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPH= A) in its determination to transform the Takoradi Port, on Friday inaugurated new sets of equipment to facilitate its operations.

The equipment worth GH¢11,473,582 comprised three each of reach-stackers, mobile cranes, Mafi tractors, head tractors as well as one forklift, which were imported from Europe.

Inaugurating the equipment in Takoradi, Alhaji Abukari Sumani, Board Chairman of the GPHA, charged the management and staff of the port to ensur= e the maximum use and maintenance of the machines. He said the oil and gas discovery in the region posed a challenge on them and there was the need to exhibit efficiency in meeting the demands of the oil and gas companies.

Alhaji Sumani, also the Member of Parliament for Tamale North, said the port would be re-designed and dredged deeper to contain heavy duty ships to berth.

The Board Chairman commended Pasico Ghana Limited for delivering the machines on time and pledged to continue collaborating with them. The Director General of the GPHA, Mr Nestor Galley, stressed the need for the staff to work extra hard to achieve the desired results. He said the GPHA was expecting eight more machines, which were on the high seas to boost the efficiency of its operations.

Mr Galley noted that the port was ready to cope with the activities of the oil and gas industry as well as the needs of other landlocked countries= ..