Crisis Management and Prevention Company, LCB World Wide Ghana has commenced the construction of some eight decontamination tunnels in the port of Tema in the lead up to the disinfection of all imports coming into the country and exports leaving the country.

The Ghana Health Service is leading the charge to have exterior surfaces of all unit loading devises including vehicles of all types disinfected at the ports before such imports get onto the market.

The objective is to ensure that imports coming into the country or exports leaving the country are disease free, wholesome, safe and secure.

The move according to the Ghana Health Service is in conformity with International Health Regulations.

Some industry players have described the move as a laudable one which shows the seriousness of government in tackling the issue of safety and security of goods entering or leaving the country.

The eight tunnels dotted along all four gates of the Port of Tema and other vantage points come along with eight control rooms and eight offices.

Chief Engineer for LCB World Wide, Sen Korhan Muhharem tells the New M&TD that the offices will house operations staff of the company and other allied institutions, particularly the Ghana Health Service which will be supervising the company’s operations in the ports.

"We have one control room for each tunnel and one office for each tunnel. So we have eight tunnels, eight control rooms and eight offices in all’’ he said.

Timelines

According to the chief engineer, work on the tunnels will be completed in the second week of February after which test runs will begin and eventually paving way full and actual operations.

The tunnels he intimated are being constructed such that trucks carrying goods will drive through at a very normal pace for the fumigation to be done.

The plan Mr. Muhharem noted is to ensure that no additional delays accompany the exercise and that trucks do not get stuck. ‘’The trucks will go by the normal velocities they have and according to regulations of the port. They will be fumigated automatically and they will pass through the rays and off they go’’ He opined further.

Local participation

Mr. Muhharem told the New M&TD the company believes in local partnership in all of its operational areas and that this ideal has been with company for a very long time. He said the company has contracted the services of a local subcontractor who is helping erect the structures.

He said local participation and job creation is one of the hallmarks of the company. He expressed satisfaction with the output of the local subcontractor, Sod Construction Limited.

Local Contractor

Managing Director of Sod Construction Limited, Samuel Ato Dadzie on his part expressed joy at the opportunity to work with LCB world Wide Ghana. He noted that the company has engaged the services of various skilled workers including carpenters, masons, surveyors and plumbers among others. He was optimistic that they will meet the timelines for completion of the project.

Additional Facts: LCB World Wide Ghana has a service contract with the Government of Ghana through the lead agency, the Ghana Health Service which mandates it to ensure that all imports entering the country and exports leaving the country are fumigated to remove all traces of hazardous infectious diseases

The exercise is in line with International Health Regulations (IHR) which encourages routine and emergency measures including decontamination procedures at the ports, designated points of entry, international container terminals, airports and ground crossings

Ghana in 2007 together with other member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) enforced the International Health Regulations and incorporated same into her national laws in 2012 by virtue of the public sector Act (Act 851)

Three additional decontamination tunnels will be constructed in the port of Takoradi in the ensuing days.

The various points of entry will also see the mounting of the tunnels subsequently