BOANKRA INLAND PORT PROJECT RESUMES JULY-TRANSPORT MINISTER

-

Construction of the Boankra Inland Port Project in the Ashanti region is expected to resume by July this year under a public-private partnership arrangement on a Build-Operate and Transfer, BOT, model. 

The cost of the next phase of the project is estimated at a minimum of 400 million Dollars and would be completed within two years upon resumption of the construction works. 

The Minister for Transport, Ofori Asiamah, made this known to Ashanti Today in Kumasi after briefing the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, on steps being taken to re-start the Inland Port Project. 


The Project, which was initiated by the previous NPP government about 10 years ago, stalled following the change of government. 

Before the project came to a standstill, the Administrative Block complex had been built at a cost of about five million Dollars. 

However, a recent visit to the site showed substantial damages to the building as a result of non-occupation and lack of maintenance during the period.

 Also, compensation to the affected owners of the about one thousand hectare land had been paid. 

The Transport Minister, who was accompanied by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Selby Twumasi-Ankra and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Madam Benonita Bismack, was at the Manhyia Palace to update the Asantehene on plans to restart and possibly complete the project.

 Mr. Asiamah disclosed that the World Bank, which has been involved in the selection processes for bidders, has shortlisted some entities to select the eventual concessionaire to start the construction. 

According to Mr. Asiamah, the next phases of the Inland Port project consists of the provision of Bonded Warehouses, a Terminal for cargo, Sheds among other essential facilities. 

He said the goal of the project is to serve the landlocked neighbouring countries of Ghana including Togo, Burkina Faso and Niger to reduce the volume of traffic and pressure on Ghana’s highways and also to help de-congest the country’s sea ports.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, described the Minister’s message as a piece of good news considering the fact that succeeding sector Ministers after the start of the project, had assured him that the Port was going to be completed but turned out to be untrue saying that funds expended on the construction of the Administrative block complex has become a waste of funds considering its current state. 

The Asantehene noted that at a point, he had to intervene to stop the landowners from re-entering the land following the delay in completion of the project.

 Otumfuo Osei Tutu said if completed, the Inland Port would positively impact the national economy especially in jobs creation and local industrialization. 

He advised the government and its partners to ensure that only competent companies are engaged to undertake the work.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

JUTE FACTORY IS BACK

-
Image
the administrative block under rehabilitation At long last, the much talked about defunct GIHOC Fibre manufacturing Company popularly known as the Jute Factory, is to be back in operations very soon.  Ashanti Today can confirm that work is feverishly ongoing towards the revival of the once golden sacks manufacturing company with the first production expected in the first quarter of next year.  It is a public-private partnership with a wholly Ghanaian company, Jute Mills Ghana Limited being the operator and has already sunk about five million Ghana Cedis to revamp the company.  The Jute Factory is located within the industrial area of Kaase.  It has been on divestiture for about 20 years now with successive governments paying lip-service to revamp it.   The old machinery at main factory to be replaced soon  It is one project that is dear to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu, who has used almost every opportunity with bus...
Read more

THE STATE OF KUMASI'S 'INDUSTRIAL AREA

-
The once Industrial enclave of the Ashanti region within the Kumasi metropolis is fast losing its status as the nerve centre of jobs for the people.     This is due to the collapse of most of the companies in quick succession in  the last few years for various reasons. Background Industrialization was a key component of the first wholly indigenous government of Ghana led by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The Ashanti region was not left out in this drive which was meant to create decent jobs for the residents, particularly the youth.  Asokwa, Ahinsan, Kaase, Atonsu and Kyirapatre were the communities that became what is known as the ‘Industrial Area’ of Ashanti from the early 60s.  The christening of this enclave as the ‘Industrial Area’ was the people’s appreciation of the numerous state and privately owned companies that were sited there.  These communities fall within present day Asokwa Constituency whic...
Read more

KWAMANG SHS NEEDS URGENT HELP

-
Image
New Campus of the Kwamang Presby SHS The Kwamang Presby Senior High/Technical School in the Sekyere Central district of Ashanti needs an urgent external intervention to address some of its pressing basic needs to function very well.  A visit by Ashanti Today to the school’s premises revealed that the school does not have an administrative block to administer affairs of the school for which reason the Headmistress, the Bursar and another staff are sharing one room which has been partitioned, while the Assistant Headmaster, the rest of the Accounts staff among other administrative officers are also working from an improvised classroom. Anybody who visits the Kwamang Presby Senior High Technical school for the first time will unavoidably take it for a basic school.  This is more so when it appears to be perching on the premises of the local Junior High School as its old site.  The school is wallowing in a myriad of challenges that are seriously milit...
Read more