The Port of Tema has recorded a huge increase in its cargo transit as it anchored.a total of 13,755,593 tonnes between January and October 2018.

The figure shows a significant increase over the 11,373,738 cargo transit tonnage the Port recorded during the same period in 2017.

Mr Michael A. Luguje, Acting Director General, Ghana Ports and Habours Authority (GPHA), disclosed this on Friday when he interacted with media practitioners in Tema during a press soiree organized by his outfit.

Mr Luguje indicated that the Port of Takoradi also recorded some increase as its cargo transit also moved from 6,620,730 in 2017 to 7,262,880 in 2018 giving the GPHA a total of 21,018,473 from Tema and Takoradi.

He noted that prudent management of the country's sea ports led to the significant cargo transit increase.

He added that total transit trade also appreciated by about 80,000 tonnes from the 2017's 1,059,568 to 1,138,959 in 2018.

He said the Ports of Ghana were embarking on very intensive activities including trade missions to the landlocked nations in order to solidify its position as the preferred destination for the transit nations of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Touching on the achievements of the paperless clearing system, he observed that over 90 per cent of the port operations had successively integrated onto the system adding that it had also led to a single unit inspection replacing the numerous inspections which hitherto was carried out by various state inspection agencies.

Mr Luguje noted that the system had led to efficiency in service delivery at the nation’s Ports through the reduction of time and costs in cargo clearance.

The Acting Director General said his outfit was seeking to collaborate with other stakeholders including the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to create a common platform that would allow the Authority to see internal remarks made by customs and other agencies as well as to have a unified call centre located in Tema to be manned by competent officials from the relevant stakeholders.

He announced that the GPHA was embarking on a massive infrastructural projects at both the Tema and Takoradi Ports noting that an executive instrument had been issued for the commencement of the feasibility study on the Keta mini harbour would be started in 2019.

Mr Dominic Hlordzi, Tema Regional Chairman of the GJA, on his part commended the GPHA for cordially relating to journalists in the country and its continues support for the annual GJA awards.

Mr Hlordzi called for collaboration between the Association and the Authority to provide capacity building for reporters on ports' operations to equip them to report efficiently and accurately on the maritime sector.