GPHA, MoH sensitise Tema Port operatives to coronavirus

The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), in partnership with the Port Health Division of the Ministry of Health (MoH), has begun a sensitisation programme on the coronavirus infection for the fishing community and relevant stakeholders at the Tema Port.

Workers of the GPHA stationed at the fishing harbour are also being sensitised.

According to the General Manager, Health Services at the GPHA, Dr Vitus Anaab-Bisi, the exercise would be extended to cover freight forwarders, customs officials and other relevant stakeholders.

He said the sensitisation had become necessary due to the large commodity import business from China and the Far East that went through the Tema Port on a daily basis, making the port vulnerable to an outbreak.

Preventive measure

Addressing scores of fishermen, fishmongers and traders at the fishing harbour yesterday, Dr Anaab-Bisi indicated that national sensitisation to the coronavirus had been focused on only the airport, so the GPHA saw it necessary to engage the stakeholders due to the nature of the authority’s business, of which the Asia region dominated as the major destination for vessels calling at the port.

He pointed out that many of the fishermen who went to sea got in contact with all manner of people from various destinations, including China. He, therefore, cautioned the fishermen, in particular, to be abreast of the symptoms associated with the disease to ensure they did not bring home the infection.

Port Health

The Director of Port Health at the Tema Port, Mr Raphael John Marfo, cautioned the port workers not to go aboard a vessel without officials of Port Health first carrying out mandatory checks to declare the vessel safe.

He also called for thorough screening of the manifests, declarations, dangerous goods manifest, among others, on vessels from any destination, with special emphasis on those from Asia.

“If there's the need to disinfect and decontaminate the vessel, it must be isolated quickly for fumigation,” he advised.

Mr Marfo also stressed the need for all containers arriving at the port to go through the disinfection channels installed at vantage points of the port so as to curtail any form of infection.

Extend supervision

The Chief Fisherman of Tema, Nii Adjietey Mator, commended the GPHA and Port Health for the initiative but expressed worry at what he said was the condition of many of the fishing vessels operated by nationals of Asian origin at the fishing harbour.

“The vessels are often dirty and have become a safe haven for rodents, cockroaches, among others, and I wonder why Port Health officials do not extend their supervision to these vessels,” he stated.