The EPC agreement was signed by Mr Kwame Gyan, Chairman for Ibistek whiles Mr Philip Morobe signed for Jan De Nul for a project that is expected to operate by June 2019.

Captain Ebenezer Afedzi, the Director of the Port of Takoradi, affirmed the GPHA’s commitment to ensure that the project was completed on schedule to open the port up for more and more businesses.

“We are bent on making the Takoradi Port the safest and much preferred port within the Western and Central Africa”.

It is hope that the first deep drafted container vessel would arrive in June 2019 as planned.

Mr Kweku Ofori Asiamah, the Minister for Transport, referred to the support from all stakeholders particularly the President of the Republic of Ghana for his unwavering commitment to see that the investment of indigenes benefitted the Ghanaian economy.

He said the President was keen on industrialization and the use of local experts notwithstanding foreign partnership to advance development adding “we have put in place the legal framework for businesses to thrive”.

The Transport Minister said their coming on board was a move to also revive businesses and city life through such infrastructure development.

He urged the contractors to include local contractors in the execution of the project since it was the first terminal to be built by Africans.

Mr Frank Adu, the Chief Executive Officer of Cal Bank, financiers of the Project, said the bank was proud to be associated with great local entrepreneurs like Ibistek.

Already, a 25 acre land on the Sekondi road had been developed to the tune of 78 million dollars for offshore container activities.

Mr Adu said “we have depended a lot on foreign aid and at 60 years we should be doing a lot for ourselves to realise the goal of Ghana beyond Aid.”