The expansion of the Takoradi Port will position it to meet the demands of operators in the international market.

Richard Anamoo, Director-General of the GPHA, disclosed this during an open forum on the Takoradi Port expansion project, which was attended by stakeholders, chiefs and assembly members in some selected communities in the Western Region.

He revealed that as part of the expansion project, GPHA had taken steps to reclaim part of the sea at New Takoradi to secure more space for expansion to meet increasing demands of the maritime industry.

The Director-General of the GPHA mentioned that the rejuvenation of the rail sector would provide the right impetus to complement a sterling port system.

He noted that due to its location, the Takoradi Port was a preferred and ideal gateway to the middle and northern parts of Ghana, as well as Sahelian landlocked countries.

The project will significantly help in the development of the Western region and ultimately reduce the cost of doing business at the port.

The Takoradi Port, which was constructed in 1928, is receiving a major facelift to become the hub for oil services in the country.

The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has signed an agreement with Viking Offshore and Halliburton to provide financial support while the government of Ghana would support it with part of a Chinese loan facility.

The project, which is in three phases, upon completion, would position the port to receive bigger vessels, improve the turn-around time, eliminate congestion and double handling of cargoes.

The first phase of the expansion project at the Takoradi Port, which involves the extension of the existing main breakwater, provision of facilities to handle bulk commodities and dredging of the access channels, is progressing steadily.

As part of the expansion project, the berths would be dredged to about 16 meters depth with the breakwater extended to 1.75 kilometres northwards.

Upon completion, manganese, bauxite, clinker, limestone and other bulk cargo operations would be transferred to the new jetty.

The move will create space for existing manganese terminal for increased oil services activities in the port while the sawn timber shed at the Port would be demolished to make way for space to support port operations.

GPHA is also negotiating with the Ghana Railway Company to convert the Sekondi Railway Station into a container terminal.