The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) and the Jomoro Municipal Assembly in the Western Region on Friday inaugurated afreight park at Elubo to end the recurrent transit truck congestion and haphazard parking at the Elubo border.
Built on a two-acre land with a truck capacity of 31, the Elubo Freight Park is expected to make the nation’s western transit corridor attractive to businesses that haul goods to Cote d’Ivoire and beyond.
Initiated and funded by the GSA with support from the Assembly, it has 12 dormitory facilities for drivers and their mates to rest, 40 toilets and bathrooms, laundry, a mosque, and six offices.
The park is part of GSA’s resolve to shoot up Ghana’s transit trade which is estimated to generate GH₵ 134 million annually in a bid to support economic growth.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Board Chairperson for the GSA, Stella Wilson, described the project as evidence of the premium the Authority placed on transit trade, and gave the assurance that more efforts would be made to make Ghana a favourable destination to neighbouring landlocked countries.
“There are high expectations that more trade volumes would be moved across the borders of the continent with the introduction of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), hence, the timeliness of this all-important Freight and Logistics Park at Elubo,” she said.
She charged the municipality to oversee the maintenance of the facility to ensure longevity.
The Jomoro Municipal Chief Executive, Louisa Iris Arde, said the park would not only boost economic activities but enhance road safety and beautify the municipality.
“This terminal project is very critical to the revenue mobilisation drive by the Assembly and in this regard, the management of the assembly has carefully constituted the Elubo Articulator Terminal Management committee to ensure the effective management of the terminal.
“The day to day running of the facility will require a multi-sectoral approach, and all stakeholders relevant for the effective operationalisation of this facility are urged to give off their best for the achievement of the goals and targets set for the project”, she said.
The ceremony was witnessed by stakeholders in the industryincluding the transit truck drivers who thanked the GSA and the Municipal Assembly for the initiative.
BY TIMES REPORTER
