President John Dramani Mahama has highlighted Ghana’s dependence on foreign shipyards for the maintenance of its naval vessels, describing the situation as one of the gaps the country’s new floating dry dock facility is expected to address.
He said Ghana had previously been compelled to send some of its ageing naval vessels to the Damen shipyard in the Netherlands for servicing and maintenance because of the absence of adequate ship repair infrastructure locally.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the $137 million floating dry dock project and the Berth 19 facility at the Takoradi Port, President Mahama said the investment would provide Ghana with the capacity to undertake major ship repairs and maintenance services within the country.
The project, which is expected to be completed within 18 months under a 25-year concession arrangement, is also expected to serve vessels operating across the Gulf of Guinea.
President Mahama recalled that during his previous tenure, the government faced difficulties maintaining some of the country’s ageing naval fleet because of the limited availability of specialised ship repair facilities.
He said the situation exposed Ghana’s dependence on foreign maritime service providers and underscored the importance of investing in local capacity.
“I remember when I came to office and we had to service some of our ageing naval fleets, we had to send them to Damme shipyard in Netherlands to go and service and maintain them,” he stated.
The President observed that the absence of a major ship repair facility along the West African coast had forced vessel operators to travel to Europe or Durban in South Africa for maintenance.
He expressed confidence that the new floating dry dock would fill that gap and attract business from neighbouring countries, particularly Nigeria, as well as operators of oil rigs and other maritime vessels working along the Gulf of Guinea.
President Mahama said he has confidence in the private-sector-led arrangement, arguing that specialised facilities of this nature required efficient management and sustained investment.
Beyond reducing dependence on foreign shipyards, he said the project would create 430 jobs, with 30 per cent of the opportunities reserved for women.
He added that the facility would promote technology transfer and equip Ghanaian workers with specialised skills that could make them competitive in the international maritime industry.
The President described the project as an important addition to Ghana’s maritime infrastructure and expressed optimism that it would strengthen the country’s capacity to provide ship repair and maintenance services within the sub-region.
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Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️) Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭