Takoradi, Oct. 03, GNA - Mr Martison Ankobiah, Port Operations Coordinator of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) on Tuesday said with the increasing patronage of Takoradi and Tema ports there was the need to expand the facilities.

He said presently the berths and draughts of the two ports must be increased to enable them receive bigger ships. Mr Ankobiah made the call in an interview with journalists after a four-hour float through some principal streets of Sekondi-Takoradi to launch the 20th weeklong anniversary celebrations of GPHA. It is under the theme "20 years of Port Reforms-The Challenges Ahead".

He said Takoradi Port was both an import and export destination for all categories of goods and business operators, clearing agents and shipping companies and urged them to educate their clients about the potentials of GPHA.

Mr Ankobiah said in 2002 the port received 18,000 metric tonnes of goods and this increased to 146,000 metric tonnes in 2005. He said management of Takoradi port expected imports to reach 180,000 metric tonnes by the end of the year.

Mr Ankobiah said management was determined to improve on the turn around time of ships, which dock at Takoradi to improve GPHA businesses and enhanced the rapid growth of business in the region. He said lack of storage space, sheds and warehouses inside the port were major challenges facing the Takoradi Port.

The Port Co-ordinator said to ease these problems, investors were being encouraged to construct more warehouses and storage facilities within Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Area (SAEMA) to facilitate trade. He said the Boankra Inland Port under construction in the Ejisu-Juaben District of the Ashanti Region would greatly improve performance of the Takoradi port and ease the perennial congestion in SAEMA.