After successfully engaging senior editors in the country to share the vision of the Port Authority for the year 2018, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority led by its Director General, Paul Asare Ansah has held a media soiree for journalists in Tema.
The engagement was targeted at cementing the existing relationship between the port authority and media who are partners in the maritime industry and solicit some suggestions from them.
The General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Affairs at GPHA, Esther Gyebi-Donkor called for an improved relationship in 2018 as the Port Authority continues to improve its service delivery to clients.
“The port is a very crucial and critical area for our nation building, and those of us who are working in there, we feel privileged and we hope that you also see that area as a very critical area to partner with us to ensure that everything is going well. We are happy you are able to tell us if we are going wrong and we are also happy you are able to report positively on us throughout the year. So we are grateful, we thank you so much. We would want to deepen the relationship that we have”, she opined.
The Director General of GPHA, Paul Asare Ansah described the year 2017 as very successful in terms of vessel calls and financial performance compared to 2016.
He highlighted some projects the Port Authority will embark on in 2018 for both the Tema and Takoradi Ports.
“Currently it is a container terminal that we are building now, but we will develop other facilities. We have even initiated the steps to develop other facilities like the LNG terminal, cruise and passenger terminal. These are other developments that are being pursued within this 2018. We have started the necessary studies leading to the developments of these facilities. With Takoradi, we are positioning ourselves to support whatever development the oil and gas, the mining, the commercial, and the integrated aluminium industry,” he expounded.
He stressed the need for Ghanaians to be empowered to take part in the development of port infrastructure.
“Ghanaians must be empowered to take full control over every sector of the Ghanaian economy because political independence without economic empowerment is meaningless. We are determined to empower and grow local capacity to partner with the Port Authority to lift up the maritime industry,” he stated.
The journalists sought to know how the port authority intends to be on top of the competition in the West African sub-region.