Ghana moves to over-take Nigeria, awards $2.5bn port expansion contract

December 03, 2013

Ghanaian government is to award a $2.5 billion contract for the expansion of its ports facilities to attract bigger vessels in a bid to make it the hub for the sub-region.

The contract, which is expected to be completed in 2018, will be twice the present capacity of the port. The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), which is handling the project for the government, noted that the project will increase the capacity of the port to handle larger ships and reduce waiting time for vessels.

Paul Asare Ansah, Head of Marketing and Public Relations of the GPHA, pointed out that GPHA has given 18 companies from around the world, a deadline of January 27, 2014, to present technical and financial bids for five stages of expansion at Tema and Takoradi ports.

Capacity for twenty-foot equivalent containers at Tema, which handles about 90 percent of the nation’s traffic, will double to 2 million TEUs a year by 2018, he said. Tema is located 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of Accra, the capital.

“It’s our dream to make Ghana the regional hub for shipments and receive really big vessels,” Ansah said. “We need to quickly expand capacity to handle the ever increasing traffic.”

Ghana’s debut as an oil exporter in 2010 boosted demand for imports of machinery, fuel and food. The economy of the world’s second-biggest cocoa producer has grown at an average of 7.3 percent, faster than the average in sub-Saharan Africa, in the past decade, putting pressure on aging infrastructure. Ghana wants to offer an alternative to Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer and home to West Africa’s biggest port, as cases of piracy increase in the Gulf of Guinea.

awodman: Good development...but this concentration in Lagos is too much..Pls we need the Ibaka Deep port contract to be awarded..how about making calabar,Ph and Warri Ports work

Sincere 9gerian: When this port is completed, it will be the first deep sea port built since independence. It took the "clueless" ijaw fisherman to effectively commence this project that has been in the pipeline for decades

awodman: Good development...but this concentration in Lagos is too much..Pls we need the Ibaka Deep port contract to be awarded..how about making calabar,Ph and Warri Ports work

Sincere 9gerian: When this port is completed, it will be the first deep sea port built since independence. This same president that a certain people hate so much has now effectively commenced a project that has been in the pipeline for decades

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola says the construction of Lekki Seaport has begun while the design for the international airport is ready.
The governor said this on Thursday during the second Lagos Corporate Assembly, tagged, ‘BRF Meets Business’, held at Lekki Free Trade Zone complex.
Fashola, however, said paucity of fund was a major challenge to the speedy development of the seaport and the international airport, adding that availability of funds would determine when the project would be completed.
He said, “I cannot tell you the date the seaport will be finished but work has started at the port and the contractors are on site.
“There are still a few issues in terms of getting funding and commitment from the private sector because clearly both the management and the private sector own the zone. They are not government-owned but government has an enabling role to play in the regulation of the zone ”He said the state government was sourcing private funds to develop the international airport.
He noted that the airport would be of international standard, according to an approve plan.
He said the state was strategically positioned to utilise and benefit from the development of the airport.
The governor assured businesses and corporate entities that government remained truly committed to providing infrastructure needed to make the free trade zone functional as soon as possible.
He said the zone would drive not just the state economy, but the national economy.
Fashola also faulted the plan by the Federal Government to sell the National Theatre, stating that it was like wiping the country’s national history.
He also said the transport plan for the trade zone was basically water-driven.
Fashola said, “The zone is a peninsula. That is why we are considering the need to transport our goods on the water. This is peninsula that sits so strategically that it has access to its own means of transport which is water.
“That was why we have decided to fast-track the plan of accessing the zone and evacuation of cargo by using the lagoon.
“This lagoon goes as far as Ondo State. Most logs come into the state through water. I do not know any country where industrial cargo is transported by road.”
He said such a development was not sustainable, stressing that the roads would not last.
Fashola said the waterways would be the government’s immediate and short-term focus.


http://www.punchng.com/news/lekki-seaport-international-airport-on-course-fashola/

Sincere 9gerian: When this port is completed, it will be the first deep sea port built since independence. This same president that a certain people hate so much has now effectively commenced a project that has been in the pipeline for decades

awodman: Good development...but this concentration in Lagos is too much..Pls we need the Ibaka Deep port contract to be awarded..how about making calabar,Ph and Warri Ports work

plaindealer:

1. You mind showing us any documented fact stating the exact date this project was initiated and by who?

2. If this Ijaw man was responsible for awarding this contract, then why is he yet to award the contract for the 30 year old drawing board 2nd Niger bridge?

3. And why are they awarding contracts for everything in other parts of the country and not this 30 year old drawing board 2nd Niger bridge?


Is it not obvious that this has nothing to do with GEJ and more to do with the folks controlling and directing the Nations funds, their alliance and need to approve money for everything in their respective regionS?

The Ijaw man is powerless with zero influence and can not approve money for anything in his core base and area of support.

Sincere 9gerian: Even when FACTS have been established Tinubu e-dogs are still spewing thrash. Smh

Sincere 9gerian: Even when FACTS have been established Tinubu e-dogs are still spewing thrash. Smh

He said “Council approved the issuance of a Guarantee to cover financial obligation of the NPA to pay compensation in the event of expropriation, war, civil disturbance, breach of contract and other event of default as per the concession agreement for the development of the port

talktimi: The way they were shouting this thing since i thought it was the LASG that was the alpha and omega of this project now one yam is trying to deny the FEC of their due commendation. Smh

The Minister explained that the federal government has 20 percent equity in the project with Lagos state having 18.5percent equity while the private investors have 61.85 percent stake in the project.

Obiagelli:
counter them nah, don't run away like you did on the enugu massive unemployment thread.

Sincere 9gerian: When this port is completed, it will be the first deep sea port built since independence. This same president that a certain people hate so much has now effectively commenced a project that has been in the pipeline for decades

awodman:

FG even holds a higher equity in the project

talktimi: The way they were shouting this thing since i thought it was the LASG that was the alpha and omega of this project now one yam is trying to deny the FEC of their due commendation. Smh

Sincere 9gerian:
Nonsense! The details of the project was highlighted in the OP. It is a FG project being executed in partnership with Lagos State govt and private sector. Without the FG, the project is dead. This is why FEC (not Lagos State govt) had to approve award the contract for the project. FG also provided guarantee for the private investor involved in the project. There is no room for cheap lies and propaganda here. FG is also working on the Ibaka deep sea port and that too will soon be awarded.