Export terminal to begin operations in June
An export terminal with the capacity to take 4,000 twenty-footer containers would become operational at the Tema Port enclave by June 2016.
Advertisement
The GH¢20 million facility, named ‘Amaris’ terminal, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group, also has facilities for container repairs and maintenance.
It is expected to provide a one-stop shop for exports from Ghana, including transit cargoes to foreign countries.
The terminal, which is a joint venture between the Jospong Group, which owns 80 per cent shares and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) as the minority shareholder, is expected to provide some 150 direct and indirect jobs.
Officials of Amaris are awaiting the approval of an export permit licence from the GPHA and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to begin commercial operations.
The managing director of Amaris Terminal, Mr Alex Atakorah, told the Daily Graphic in an interview in Tema that the facility would also serve as a platform to build local capacity in the area of container repairs.
Services
According to Mr Atakorah, it had become expensive for many shipping lines to repair their damaged containers abroad because there were no such services locally.
The company, he said, had also made provision for site repairs in the event damaged containers could not be moved from the port environment to the Amaris workshop.
Other Trending Stories
Preparedness
Giving an overview of the company’s preparedness to handle export, Mr Atakorah said the company had acquired a number of container handling equipment such as empty handlers, terminal trucks, forklifts and tele trucks (used for stuffing containers) to aid its port operations.
Additionally, the company has installed Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) in and around the terminal, while the procurement processes for a biometric access gating system were underway.
He expressed the hope that the facility would ease pressure on the port space and ensure value for money for exporters.
Writer’s email: della.russel@gmail.com