The deputy minister for transport, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, conducted a working visit to the Jamestown Fishing Harbour in Accra, a facility that has been non-operational for a considerable period.
The purpose of the visit was to gain insight into and assess the harbour’s activities, identifying areas for improvement.
Accompanying the Deputy Minister were the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emilia Arthur, and other high-ranking officials from both ministries. Construction of the Jamestown Fishing Harbour commenced in 2018 under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, led by President Akufo-Addo.
The $60 million project, funded by a Chinese grant, aimed to create employment opportunities for Jamestown residents, stimulate trading activities, and increase revenue for both the residents and the country.
However, the project has experienced significant delays, with five sod-cutting ceremonies held by previous governments and construction commencing over a year after the sod-cutting ceremony.
The state-of-the-art facility has been long-awaited since discussions began in the 1960s. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo officially commissioned the harbour on Friday, September 13, 2024, four months prior to leaving office.
Despite its commissioning, the harbour has yet to become operational as anticipated.
It is against this backdrop that Madam Affo-Toffey’s visit aimed to gather firsthand information on the harbour’s operations, underscoring the government’s commitment to enhancing facilities and operations at the harbour.
Speaking to the media during the visit, Madam Affo-Toffey, who is also the Member of Parliament for Jomoro, said soon the harbour will commence full operations.
“The major problem was the water issue, so through the intervention of my boss, the transport minister, and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), they have been able to resolve that, and they have also realised that they cannot even connect to Ghana Water, which had been done because without water, they couldn’t operate it. So now that the water issue has been resolved, the ice plant is also working, and the market is also working now. ”
She said the only thing left now is the cold store, which they are working on to ensure it begins work.
“So our reason for being here is to see how they are working and what is delaying them. Now the iced plant is working, and the fish market is also working; the only thing left is the cold store, and they are working to make sure it is operational,” Madam Affo-Toffey added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
