Ghana’s minister of transport, Kweku Ofori Asiamah, has called on the private sector to partner with government in the construction of Ghana’s Keta Port.
Feasibility studies have revealed that Phase 1 of the project will cost around US$ 600 million.
During a recent ‘market sounding’ event in Accra, designed to engage stakeholders on the outcomes of the feasibility studies and get their feedback, he said the private sector would provide the necessary capital, expertise, and efficiencies for the delivery of the project.
“A project of this nature is highly capital intensive and government on its own may not be able to finance it all, hence the need for the involvement of the private sector,” said Asiamah.
Growing intra-regional trade is the motivation behind a third commercial port in Ghana, according to GPHA Director General, Michael Luguje.
“We have seen that it is a port that is feasible, viable and attractive. If you all go back into the history of many ports, including here in Ghana, you would realise that none of the ports were built on the basis of immediate first- and second-year high profitability. It is a very progressive journey towards building the port.”
GPHA’s project engineer, Komla Ofori, confirmed that the project had proved to be viable for a potential commercial cargo port that could cater for containerised, bulk, and oil and gas, as well as a shipyard facility.
He said an environmental impact assessment would be undertaken, after which the procurement process for investors would begin.
