The delegation from Sao Tome and Principe with their Ghanaian counterparts at the Takoradi Port
Plans are afoot for Sao Tome and Principe to use the country’s port and harbour as its first entry point for maritime trade.
This came to light when Ghana’s Transport Minister Kweku Asiama lead a delegation from Sao Tome to the port of Takoradi on a familiarisation and inspection visit – after a similar exercise at the Port of Tema.
The delegation from the Central African country was led by their Minister of Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Environment, Adelino Afonso Fernandes Rosa Cardoso,
The delegation and their Ghanaian counterparts visited the dry bulk jetty, the oil and gas terminal and the Atlantic Terminal Service cargo terminal at the Tarkoradi port.
The Takoradi port currently boasts of a 16 meters deep dry bulk terminal; an 800 meters quay with three berths dredged to minus 16 among others.
Sao Tome and Principe’s attention to Ghana’s port and harbour comes after the two countries renewed a seven-year air service management agreement.
Mr. Kweku Asiama explained that the visit was reciprocal to one he made to Sao Tome in February, this year, as part of the vision to deepen relations between Ghana and the central African country.
He stressed that Ghana would leverage its experience in port operations to assist Sao Tome with port infrastructure through the use of Ghana’s ports.
He said, “because of the success we have had, Sao Tome has expressed interest to use our ports as their transit points where most of their cargo will be here then they will do what we call federal distribution to their country”.
He, however, indicated that the decision to use Tema or Tarkoradi port was yet to be made.
Mr. Asiamah indicated that the Takoradi Port is now one of the most modernized ports in the world and that its infrastructure was being improved to make it a major hub for maritime trade.
“Definitely, Sao Tome using Ghana as a transit port, means more cargo coming, export and imports will increase tonnage as far as port operations are concerns,” he revealed.
Mr. Fernandes Rosa Cardoso, explained that Ghana’s strategic location, new innovations in its port operations as well as an already strong established cooperation made it worthy to consider.
He said, “I have visited Tema port and the Minister told me Takoradi has a projection for a free zone and I think it is better to do the business with Takoradi.”
Director of Port of Takoradi Peter Amo-Bediako noted that the Port stands ready to take on new challenges which will boost the country’s trade relations with the rest of the world.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi