Takoradi — The management of IBISTEK, a Ghanaian owned company, in collaboration with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), is putting up a container terminal at an estimated cost of $65 million.
Code named ‘Takoradi Container Terminal (TACOTEL), all containers that arrive at the Takoradi Port from March 4th this year would be sent to the TACOTEL terminal. Currently, work is speedily on going at the project site, and is expected to be completed next month.
Though the GPHA has made no investment in the project, it would still receive 25% of total gross revenue when completed.
Mr Kwame Gyan, Counsel for IBISTEK, disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting, organised to brief them about the project.
The stakeholders, drawn from the police, fire service, Road Safety Commission, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) amongst others, gathered to assess the impact of the project, and deliberate on how to reduce traffic congestion when the project eventually kick-starts.
In a presentation by the contractor, it became clear that the company had taken care of the impact the project would have on traffic congestion, particularly, when the containers are being transported to the project site at the old Prime Wood Ghana Limited.
Ibistek explained to the stakeholders that it had factored the traffic congestion in its report to the Urban Roads Department. Consequently, it was going to reconstruct into a dual carriage, the road from Paa Grant Roundabout leading to the project site in the first phase.
Continuing, Kwame Gyan who is also the company Secretary, told the stakeholders meeting that IBISTEK entered into concession agreement with GPHA to build the container terminal, in order to create space for the port expansion project to begin.
By carting all containers to the project site, there would be space for the second phase of the port expansion project to commence. Considering the huge investment in the project, which would directly and indirectly create employment, the Minister for Transport,
Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, last week had to cut short his visit to tour the site of the project to acquaint himself with progress of work.
For now, the first phase of the project, which is expected to be completed in March this year, would obviously contribute to job creation.
A total of 134 local carpenters have been engaged, with all civil works being done by indigenes from the Metropolis.
In the second phase of the project, which is expected to kick-start in June, a total of $350 million dollars would be committed, which would include the road development from Paa Grant Roundabout to New-Takoradi.
