The visit is to acquaint themselves with the operations of the new terminal.

Prof. Dodoo also held discussions with Mr. Mohamed Samara, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Meridian Port Services (MPS), the company undertaking the port expansion project, on ways the two institutions can collaborate to ensure efficiency at the port.

The MPS CEO took the GSA team through a presentation, showing the landmark achievements in the different phases of the project.

Prof. Dodoo, after being driven around the ultra-modern facility, was highly impressed about the scope and progress of work, saying the project will make Ghana an economic giant and serve as the vehicle to the fulfillment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The AfCFTA, whose objectives include creating a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments, and expanding intra-African trade through better harmonization and coordination of trade liberalization and facilitation regimes and instruments across Africa, officially came into effect on May 30.

"Without a state-of-the-art port like the one you are building in Ghana, there is no way we can achieve the objectives of the AfCFTA," Prof. Dodoo said, adding that, his outfit will collaborate with the MPS to ensure the success of the project, which he said, "will go a long way to accelerate Ghana's development and boom its weight inside West Africa".

"We want to see this port make a difference in Ghana and across Africa," he pointed out.

Mr Samara thanked the GSA delegation for the visit, adding that, his company was building a world-class port with efficient equipment that will enhance Ghana's position as the maritime hub in the sub-region and boost its import and export sector.

According to him, the new port will be capable of receiving the biggest vessels in the world, making it a very important project in the annals of the country, and called on all stakeholders, including the GSA, to support the project as the MPS works extra hard to meet the 28th June deadline for the completion of the project.

Prof. Dodoo was accompanied by the Acting Director of the Inspectorate Division Mrs. Felicia Adams, the Business Development Manager, Mr. George Anti, as well as the Head of Import Inspection, Mr. Stephen Adu.

The MPS side also had Mr. Emmanuel Ohene-Addo, Operations Manager, Mr. Cyrille Lemee, Chief Operating Officer in charge of Transition as well as Mr. Frank Ebo Brown, the Manager for Legal Licenses and Permits. 

The GSA team also toured the various sections of the new facility and inspected offices designated for the state authorities/agencies including the GSA and all the supporting services.

The ultra-modern Terminal Three would become fully operational on June 28, 2019.

The fully automated terminal, estimated at US$1.5 billion, has the capacity to accommodate 3.5 million 20-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) containers from the previous 820,000 TEUs per annum.

It will operate 24/7 customer service and would be one of the largest container terminals in Africa, capable of providing 16 different port services.

The facility is equipped with modern technology and operating systems with efficient port accessibility and high berth space to reduce turnaround time for shipping lines, reduce the cost of doing business between 40 and 70 per cent, increase government revenues and become a hub for shipping lines in Africa.