Solar-powered street lights locked up at Tema Harbour

Ninety-One containers loaded with solar-powered street lights meant for cocoa farmers in remote communities have been abandoned at the Tema Port for the past 11 months.

The containers, which arrived in Ghana in two separate shipments on July 15 and November 15, 2014, have since not been cleared by the legitimate owners, Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), because of a misunderstanding with a private firm contracted to spearhead the importation of the two consignments.

There is also a controversy over the ownership of the goods as the management of COCOBOD has denied ownership of the two consignments although a source at the Tema Port said all the documents, including the bill of laden, had the signatures of officials of the CocoBod.

Investigations

The source at the port told the Daily Graphic that the solar-powered street lights were imported from China to be given to cocoa farmers as part of an initiative to provide solar energy lights in cocoa, coffee and sheanut growing communities across the country.
That, the source said, was to improve socio-economic activities, curb rural-urban migration, enhance security and reduce the incidence of crime in cocoa-growing areas.

COCOBOD’s response

When contacted, the Public Affairs Manager of the COCOBOD, Mr Noah Kwasi Amenyah, said the company had not imported any solar-powered street lights.

“I can tell you for a fact that COCOBOD has not imported any solar-powered street lights from China”, he said.
Asked whether COCOBOD had any consignment at the Tema Port, Mr Amenyah said he could not confirm unless he consulted the procurement department of the company.