By Kodjo Adams
Accra, October 1, GNA – Mrs. Dorcas Affo-Toffey, the Deputy Minister of Transport, has pledged the Ministry's backing to improve the functioning of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) efficiently.
She emphasized the sector's crucial role in enabling and advancing maritime trade to support the nation's development goals.
The Minister provided a guarantee on Wednesday as she headed a group on a familiarization visit to the GMA headquarters in Accra.
The Minister also toured the headquarters of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) in Accra.
The trip provided the Minister with a chance to engage with the team and outline the path ahead for enhancing the industry.
She mentioned that the government, under President Mahama, had addressed the visa matter with the U.S. Embassy to enable smooth business operations for the country's seafarers abroad.
She emphasized that the government was diligently working to resolve comparable issues with Brazil's administration, urging cooperation to tackle any obstacles in the maritime industry.
She praised the team for their selfless commitment to their responsibilities and encouraged them not to abandon their performance, but to contribute even more in supporting the country's long-term development.
Dr Kamal-Deen Ali, the Acting Director-General of GMA, said the Authority had, among other things, investigated maritime casualties, advised the government on maritime matters and regulated shipping activities and safety on inland waterways.
The Authority, he stressed, ensured safety of transportation on inland waterways by conducting boat surveys and inspections and enforcing safety regulations.
He appealed to the government to invest in surveillance equipment and speedily worked on the legislative processes in the sector to meet international standards.
Dr. Ali stated that the Authority plans to extend its activities in the coastal regions, such as Jomoro, Ahanta, Apam, and the Eastern Region in Ada.
At the GSA, Professor Randsford Gyampo, the Chief Executive, stated that the Minister's attendance reflected her interest in the organization and her commitment to aiding the sector's development.
He mentioned that the Authority was founded in 1974 to protect and promote the shipping sector, with the goal of creating an environment that ensures equity among participants.
He praised the government's 24-hour economic policy, noting that the system needed reliable logistics with no disruptions to achieve its complete results.
Professor Gyampo stated that the Boankra Inland Port project was 80 percent finished and urged the government to guarantee its full completion.
The initiative is a significant infrastructure project in Ghana's Ashanti Region, designed to establish a logistics terminal that links the ports of Tema and Takoradi with the landlocked West African nations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
He mentioned that the contractor had warned of quitting the project because of the $50 million he was owed, but remained hopeful that the Ministry would step in to resolve the problems.
The Deputy Minister, in reply, pledged to forward GSA's concerns to the relevant body for resolution.
She mentioned that the sector has been crucial in the nation's efforts to generate employment for young people and to boost economic development.
Mrs. Affo-Toffey mentioned that the government is prepared to tackle the expenses associated with operating at the port by examining the taxes and other charges to keep and draw in clients within the industry.
"We are a government that listens and will strive to create policies that position our port as the finest in the sub-region," she stated.
GNA
Christian Akorlie
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