President John Dramani Mahama has announced that a new $137 million floating dry dock and ship repair facility is expected to create 430 jobs, with 30 per cent of the employment opportunities reserved for women.
The project, which is expected to be completed within 18 months, is being developed under a 25-year concession arrangement and forms part of efforts to position Ghana as a major ship repair and maintenance destination along the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Berth 19 facility and the floating dry dock project at Takoradi, President Mahama said the investment would address a major gap in maritime infrastructure along the West African coast.
He explained that the absence of a major ship repair facility in the region had forced several vessel operators to send their ships to Europe or Durban in South Africa for maintenance and repairs.
The President recalled that during his previous administration, Ghana had to send some of its ageing naval vessels to the Damen shipyard in the Netherlands for servicing and maintenance.
He said the new facility would provide a more accessible and efficient alternative for vessels operating along the Gulf of Guinea.
“On the whole of the West Coast, actually the Gulf Coast, there is no major ship repair facility,” he observed.
President Mahama expressed confidence in the private-sector-led arrangement, arguing that private operators were better positioned to manage specialised facilities of that nature.
He said the project would attract business from neighbouring countries, including Nigeria, as well as companies operating oil rigs and other maritime vessels along the Gulf of Guinea.
Beyond its contribution to the maritime industry, the President identified employment creation and skills development as major benefits of the investment.
He said the 430 jobs expected to be created would provide opportunities for young Ghanaians to acquire specialised skills in ship repair, maintenance and other technical operations.
The 30 per cent employment allocation for women, he noted, was particularly encouraging because it would provide young women with opportunities to enter a specialised industry traditionally dominated by men.
President Mahama added that the project would facilitate technology transfer and equip Ghanaian workers with internationally marketable skills.
The floating dry dock project was earlier announced as the first project under Ghana’s Growth Partnership with the United Kingdom.
The President expressed satisfaction that the project, which has taken about 14 years to materialise, had finally reached the groundbreaking stage.
He commended Prime Meridian, Shipwright and the financial institutions and other partners involved in bringing the investment to fruition.
The facility is expected to strengthen Ghana’s maritime services industry, reduce the need for ship operators to seek maintenance services outside the region and generate additional economic opportunities.
LISTEN TO PRESIDENT MAHAMA IN THE AUDIO BELOW 👇:
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️) Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭
