Shippers in the Western and Central Regions have proposed to government to introduce a policy that will direct all transit vessels for landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and others berth at the Takoradi Port instead of Tema.
This, they believe, will make the Takoradi Port vibrant and competitive and also ease the pressure at the Tema Port.
According to the shippers, they do encounter some challenges in their operations such as delay in clearing goods but if the Takoradi Port is promoted and made competitive to serve shippers in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central and the Northern Regions of the country, such challenges will significantly reduce.
The proposal was made when Import and Export Shipper Committee of the Central Region toured the Takoradi Port, Takoradi Container Terminal (TACOTEL) among others to familiarize themselves with the operations and activities of the port.
The familiarization tour, organized by the Western Regional branch of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), is a regular activity held periodically by the authority and its committees to discuss common shipping problems affecting the shipping industry in Ghana.
The visit, is also part of efforts by the Shippers Authority and the Takoradi Port to get the investors from the Central Region and other parts of Ghana that is close to the Western Region to clear and export their goods through the Takoradi Port.
In interactions, most of the shippers pointed out that they have never cleared their goods from the Takoradi port before. Majority of the shippers explained they have always perceived the port as only providing export services especially on natural resources and not import whilst few noted that they knew of their import services and thought the cost in clearing their goods from the Takoradi port will be too high.
After explanation from the port officials, the shippers realized the significant benefits they stand to gain from using the Takoradi Port. Officials from the Takoradi Port said, import activities in the port is very low compared to that of export following the many natural resources available in the Western Region.
The Takoradi branch manager of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Charles Darling Asiedu Sey, said the GSA is to ensure quick, safe, and reliable delivery of import and export cargos by all modes of transport at optimum cost. “It is also to improve upon quality of shipping services through appropriate interaction and intensive training of shippers,” he said.
He explained that since its inception the council has been at the forefront of investigating and finding solutions to shipper’s complaints on daily basis.
Alhaji Musa Ali, Chairman of the Central Regional Shippers Committee, thanked GSA for the visit and described the tour as an eye opener for them. He said following the interaction, it has become clear that doing business at the Takoradi Port will be far better and beneficial to shippers.
Established in 1928, the Takoradi Port is noted for its exports activities although it does general import and export services and has been tipped to be the best port in West Africa Sub-region after the on-going port expansion project is completed soon.
Source:B&FT