Concerns stirring at ports

Revenue stream at the nation’s ports has been seen as crucial to the nation’s economy and has been the sources of close attention in the past government and by the new NPP administration.

Sixteen months into the NPP administration, the ports have seen a beehive of activity including a full forensic examination into the affairs of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority by a three-man team commissioned by National Security. Last month, Sekondi-Takoradi residents had a hint of movement on an important and sensitive project close to their hearts- a substantive information that a contract to fix the lee breakwaters of the Takoradi port which was threatening safe berthing of shipping vessels was on the cards.

Hon Owusu Adjapong last year in his capacity then as Minister of Transport held discussions with stakeholders in the twin-city on plans for the port of Takoradi and promised that GPHA itself was going to help fund initial dredging work at the port aimed at deepening the wharf to allow for larger vessels to berth at the port. He also went on to promise the construction of a container wharf.

News that a company called UDEC with experience in port rehabilitation works in Togo and Cotounou is on line to win the Takoradi Port project made the rounds last week and set concerned residents smiling. It was short-lived as it was subsequently gathered that UDEC led by the Managing Director of Planet Electronics Mr Ray Quarcoo, a seasoned businessman, had put in a surprisingly low bid to continue with the repairs of the breakwaters- that is, blocking the billowing sea waves that disrupt the docking of vessels at the port.

UDEC’s contract sum of under a $1 million raised eyebrows as to the kind of end product the port was going to receive as two other competing companies had all asked for sums far in excess of $2 million. They were called back by the panel to defend their proposal and show how they could do a solid job with such paltry figure, more than 100 less than their close competitors’ offer price.

One of Mr Quarcoo’s companies had had a problem with SGS and Ministry of Trade in the past over problems with the quality of imported transmitters, and the matter had ended up in serious litigation. The panel appeared to have been satisfied with the explanations and UDEC is expected to move to Takoradi soon to start work. But the real focus is now on the $70 million port quay extension works at the Port of Tema.

Five months after the contracts had been put out for tender and evaluated the process is still lying on the desk of the Minister of Transport, Dr Richard Anane, noted for being painstaking but often agonizingly slow when he was manning the gates at the Health Ministry. Four companies have been narrowed down after as many as 21 companies bought bid documents costing $1,000 each to take the job.

It was gathered that the contractors are expected to find their own money as GPHA, though noted to be one of the riches government-owned organizations, has no money. Last week alone as much as $6 million was reportedly wrenched from the hands of the diligent and stingy financial controller for non-port related work-the Yendi matter.

The companies- all foreign with Ghanaian counterparts- are expected to fund the project that is expected to cost up to $70 million in equipment and labour with significant spin-offs for the harbour city, Tema. Though cleared of any malfeasance, Mr Eddie Annan, King of the Ports for years, did not put in an appearance. Questions about fairness are rolling in- and may be raised after the decision is finally made next week as to which company won.

The companies in the frontline for the contract are ARCHIRODON, a Dutch concern that put in a bid for $65.9 million for both equipment and both phases of the project. This company was represented at the tender by a Greek.

Rhein Ruhr International (RRI), the German consultancy falsely linked to Eddie Annan did the evaluation of the bids and the technical team of GPHA last month tossed out one of the competing companies, ITERBETTON which quoted a surprisingly low figure of $23,106,000 for just one phase. Though Interbetton is reputed to have powerful lobbyists, the evaluation panel stood their grounds and tossed them out.

The third Dutch company, E.PIHL stayed in the reckoning with a bid for $47 million with the only non-European contender with extensive exposure in American ports industry. China Harbours and Engineering had put in a figure of $42.255 million.

A number of the contenders have already spent huge sums evaluating the project and sizing up the job. Tema, and the nation eagerly await the opening up of the quays as business appear to be shifting to the free port of Togo where operational costs appear to be a fraction of what pertains in Tema.