Key business stakeholders in the Western Region have called for the sovereignty of the Takoradi Port to enable it to fix its operational rates and manage the fleets that berth ashore of it.
The call comes at a time when the Port is witnessing the continuous loss of clients due to docking price differentials between it and that of the Tema Port.
Dr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Western Regional Minister who has the development of the Takoradi Port at heart at a recent meeting with the members of the Council of State said the issue has become a great concern to residents particularly, the youth and the businesses community.
He pointed out that the variations in the rates regime between the two Ports were gradually rendering the Takoradi Port unproductive for many stakeholders in the maritime trade as cargo owners, freight forwarders and captains in the maritime trade sector prefer to do business with the Tema Port for what they call cost control and savings on their investment.
Dr Darko-Mensah, therefore, implored the Council to as a matter of urgency impress upon the powers that be for the needed amendment to give more growth to the Takoradi Port.
Meanwhile, Mr Kobina N. Otoo, Commercial Manager of the Takoradi Container Terminal (TACOTEL) also underscored the need for all stakeholders, especially the business community, to partner with each other to bring the Takoradi Port to its full operational capacity
He indicated that the Terminal could do more in cargo handling but was currently operating under capacity and therefore urged importers to turn their attention to the facility.
He further called on regulatory institutions who determine port berth prices and other ratings to work at resolving the differences in charges at the Takoradi Port to make it more attractive to importers and other stakeholders.
Mr Otoo opined that the economic nature of the region was very promising and therefore encouraged all to support the region to bring it all into actuality and mentioned few projects which were currently underway at the Takoradi Port aimed at bringing a big turnaround of the region when completed.
Among the projects is the New Oil Jetty which will be loading and discharging seagoing vessels, and which will have a capacity to discharge 80,000 tonnes of oil per stream day at the port.
The Atlantic Terminal Service (ATS) which was developing, equipping and getting ready to operate a Container and Multi-Purpose Terminal inside the Takoradi Port for the handling, storage and delivery of Containers, RoRo cargo, General Cargo and Agri-bulk products among others.
