Tema, Jan 21, GNA- The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), has purchased three new 45 tonnes Reach Stacker equipment at a cost of 11.3 billion cedis to facilitate the lifting of containers to enhance work at the Tema port.

This brings to nine of the tonnes Reach Stackers and 13 of the 40 tonnes of the Reach Stacker equipment that were already operating at the Port.

The equipment, purchased from the Port's Internally Generated Fund was imported from SMV Lift Trucks of Sweden through PASICO Ghana. Briefing the press on Wednesday, Mr Gordon Anim, Director of Tema Port, said the purchase of the equipment became necessary due to the increase in cargo that pass through the Port and response to complaints about delay in services of the Port.

"We realised there was a growing demand at the Port hence the purchase of these containers", he added.

Mr Anim said in 2002, the port had 230,000 TEUS containers while as at the end of October 2003 it had 252,000 containers.

In 2002 the port handled 6.8 million tonnes of cargo through the port while as at October 2003; the port handled 6.2 million tonnes. He said Cargo Transit through the Port was also 630,000 metric tonnes in 2002 and 711,000 metric tonnes as at October 2003.

The Director however expressed the hope that the new equipment would help improve the services at the Port and also help it to achieve its aim of being the gateway to the Ghana.