The Ministry of Transport has organized an engagement between some of its agencies and the media.

The agencies which included the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Shippers’ Authority and the Ghana Maritime Authority presented their overview of the year 2019 and targets for the year 2020 to the media.

The Minister of Transport Kwaku Ofori Asiamah seized the opportunity to praise Eye on Port, an innovative Program initiated by GPHA with focus on the Port, Shipping and Maritime Industry for opening the eyes of the general public and government to many happenings within such crucial industry through educative discourse and called it an exemplary initiative that needs to be expanded across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

He entreated agencies under the Ministry that such a platform exists for all of them to get interactive with the general public.

The Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Michael Luguje revealed that by the end of 2020 or early 2021 works will begin on the construction of the Port of Keta.

He said the MPS terminal 3 will make transshipment trade very attractive to Ghana.

“The expectation is that vessels from the West or Asia will carry all the containers to Tema and smaller vessels will transship these containers to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gambia, and the rest. Terminal 3 has been constructed with a berth capacity of 16 meters,” he explained.

He said whiles Port of Tema is being promoted as the container hub for the West African sub region, the Port of Takoradi on the other hand is being positioned as oil services hub of the sub region.

Michael Luguje also gave some highlights of some developmental projects in both Tema and Takoradi Ports.

He encouraged the media to take advantage of the open door policy of the Port Authority to have access to all information to better inform the general public.

“If you want to understand the activities of the port, call on us for all the facts that you need to educate the public appropriately,” he stated.

The Deputy Director of Environment & Safety Standards at the Ghana Maritime Authority, Capt. Inusah Abdul- Nasir said his outfit is not shirking its responsibility in ensuring safety navigation.

The Head of Freights and Logistics at the Ghana Shippers Authority, Fred Aseidu Dartey lauded the paperless port initiative which he said has contributed significantly to the reduction in demurrage charges to shipping lines.

The Deputy Minister of Transport Daniel Titus-Glover said his ministry in collaboration with the Ghana Maritime Authority is tackling illegal fishing in Ghanaian waters.

“These unregulated illegal fishing is something that the GMA and the Ministry are seriously tackling and anyone that will flout our laws will seriously be dealt with,” he cautioned.

He urged importers of cars to start their clearance processes early in order not to get their cars confiscated by the state.