The Sekondi Takoradi Chamber of Commerce is calling on government to amend the PNDC law 160 that mandates the Ghana Ports and Habour Authority (GPHA) to plan, build, develop, maintain, and operate ports in the country.
According to the Chamber, the seemingly two positions on the development of a third port at Atuabo is as a result of the inconsistencies in the PNDC law 160 which states ‘the Ghana Ports and Harbors authority, GPHA is a statutory corporation established under the Provisional National Defense Council law 160 of 1986 to build, plan, develop, manage, operate and control ports in Ghana’.
The same Act also indicates in section I, 2 and 3 that ‘the port within the limit specified in the schedule to this are hereby declared to be ports for the purposes of this act and any other enactment. The president may by executive instrument vary or extend the boundaries of a port specified in the schedule or of any other port declared in sub section 3.’
Subsection 3 however states “the President may by executive instrument declare that a port, bay, place or inland water shall be a port for the purposes of this act and any other enactment and may define area of the port.”
The Chairman of the Sekondi Takoradi Chamber of Commerce, Ato Vannese, was of the opinion that this is questionable and is therefore proposing that the current GPHA PNDC Law 160 be amended to make the GPHA the sole operator of ports and harbors in Ghana to enable the two ports Tema and Takoradi be on their own as independent companies with independent board of directors and management unit.
Mr Vannese added this will “generate completion between the two harbours, now companies leading to effectiveness, efficiency and also attract the needed investment required of modern ports”
By: Afiba Anyanzua Anyanzua/citifmonline.com/Ghana