Ejisu (Ash), Sept 3, GNA- Work on a three-million-dollar Maritime House that will be the main administration block for the Boankra Inland Port has started at Boankra in the Ejisu-Juaben District. The project, which started last month, will be completed in 18 months.

Mrs Azara Al-Hassan Prempeh, Legal Officer of the Ghana Shippers Council (GSC) in Accra, said this at a day's workshop on the management of land for the development of the Inland Port and its environs. It was organised by the Ejisu-Juaben District Assembly in conjunction with the GSC and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

She told the participants including traditional rulers; land development agencies, heads of department and assembly members that the next project will include warehouses, depots and other structures. The Inland Port is expected to be an international business centre and a distribution point offering the same services as a seaport without a waterfront.

The Ghana Shippers Council and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority regard the project as a private sector development initiative. Mr Kofi Owusu-Akyaw, Ashanti Regional Director of the Town and Country Planning Department, called on the chiefs to assist the district assembly to ward off encroachers and ensure proper use of the land for the project.