President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to position Ghana as a major trade and logistics gateway for Burkina Faso through the development of new port facilities at Esikuma and Debre.
The President disclosed that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) had agreed to support the development of a new private-sector port at Esikuma, while another port facility is planned for Debre in the Savannah Region.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Berth 19 facility at the Takoradi Port and a floating dry dock project, President Mahama said the projects formed part of the government’s broader strategy to develop the Volta Corridor and strengthen Ghana’s regional trade infrastructure.
He revealed that the Esikuma Port project was being led by LMI, with construction already underway.
According to him, the proposed arrangement would include the transportation of cargo from Esikuma to Debre, where an inland terminal would be established to serve Burkina Faso and other landlocked countries.
President Mahama said the initiative would reduce the distance Burkina Faso currently travels to access containers through Ghana’s major seaports.
“It is intended that there will be another inland terminal there. And so Burkina Faso do not have to come all the way to Tema to take their containers. They can pick their containers from that side,” he explained.
He said the development would improve cargo distribution, reduce transportation costs and create additional opportunities for Ghana to benefit from regional trade.
The President further indicated that the proposed Western Railway Line would complement the port developments by providing an efficient transportation route linking the southern ports to the northern part of the country.
Under the railway plan, the first phase will extend to Nyinahini to facilitate the transportation of bauxite, while the second phase will continue through the Western Corridor to Hamile, near Ghana’s border with Burkina Faso.
President Mahama said the railway would enable Burkina Faso to transport both imports and exports through the Takoradi Port.
He maintained that the development of interconnected ports, inland terminals and railway infrastructure was essential to establishing Ghana as a competitive logistics and trade hub in the sub-region.
The President said the investments would also support the government’s ambition to build a resilient economy through strategic infrastructure development and stronger regional economic partnerships.
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Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️) Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭