?Ghana Port and Harbours Authority(GPHA) and Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority(GRA) have organized a two day special training program for journalists to enable them interact and understand the varioius activities of stakeholders in the port industry at Tema.
The Acting Manager of Business Department of GPHA Mrs. Alice Tokornu stated that the media is a very important key for development, hence there is the need for them to understand the technical issues and terminologies at the port to enable them report accurately and also foster development. According to her, this gathering is to provide more insight into the operations and activities which are undertaken at the port and also highlight the roles and functions of the individual actors in the port industry such as; Ghana Standards Authority(GSA), Food and Drugs Authority(FDA), National Security, Ghana Shippers Authority(GSA), Ghana Maritime Authority(GMA), Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), Meridian Port Services(MPS) and Ship Owners & Agent Association of Ghana(SOAAG).? She added that, all this stakeholders work hand-in-hand to deliver the cargo safely to the owner, so this platform will help the media understand and explain it better to the general public, so that together we can improve our economy as a nation.
However, the Ag. Director General of Ports Mr. Richard Anamoo noted that consequently, the authority is working to provide adequate new infrastructure, expand existing operational areas and provide well-trained personnel to facilitate the growth in both export and import, and also meet the changing needs of the country.
He added that, measures are put in place to construct a road from the port to the Tema Motorway to ease the unbearable traffic congestion in Tema. He hinted that, there will be an overpass at all the traffic lights in and around the port.
He cited that some of the challenges they face as an institution are the issue of congestion, access roads, security, fraud, and the fact that people try to come to the port to do illegal business. Mr. Richard Anamoo told The Moment that, GPHA has carried out a radical re-shaping of its security protocols and procedures, with huge investment and the port of Tema to maintain customer confidence. Meanwhile, the journalists got the opportunity to tour Tema Port and familiarize with their operations.
