President, GPHA workers, stakeholders meet over Tema Port Expansion project disagreement

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday held a closed door meeting with stakeholders involved in the disagreement at the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) over the Tema Port Expansion project.

Although the meeting was not opened to media presence, it was aimed at addressing the concerns of the workers of GPHA over an agreement with Meridian Ports and Services (MPS) in relation with the port expansion project.

According to them, the agreement had some unfavourable clauses which will lead to loss of about 4,000 direct and 1,500 indirect jobs.

They want the government to renegotiate the agreement between the GPHA and MPS to avert the losses.

The expansion project is expected to make the country’s port the largest cargo port in West Africa and one of the best in Africa with a capacity of 3.5 million 20 foot equivalent unit (TEU) per annum. 

It is however anticipated that some manual jobs would be lost when the expansion project is completed due to the semi-automated nature of the new terminals. 

BY YAW KYEI