President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana has emphasized the country's reliance on foreign shipyards for maintaining its naval vessels. He noted that Ghana previously had to send its ageing naval vessels to the Damen shipyard in the Netherlands for servicing and maintenance due to the lack of adequate ship repair infrastructure locally. This situation led to significant financial losses for the country. The President made these remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the $137 million floating dry dock project and the Berth 19 facility at the Takoradi Port.
The new floating dry dock project, expected to be completed within 18 months under a 25-year concession arrangement, will enable Ghana to undertake major ship repairs and maintenance services within the country. The facility will also serve vessels operating across the Gulf of Guinea. President Mahama recalled that during his previous tenure, the government faced difficulties maintaining some of the country's ageing naval fleet due to limited availability of specialised ship repair facilities. This exposed Ghana's dependence on foreign maritime service providers.
President Mahama observed that the absence of a major ship repair facility along the West African coast forced vessel operators to travel to Europe or Durban in South Africa for maintenance. He expressed confidence that the new floating dry dock would fill this gap and attract business from neighbouring countries, particularly Nigeria, as well as operators of oil rigs and other maritime vessels working along the Gulf of Guinea. The President has confidence in the private-sector-led arrangement, arguing that specialised facilities of this nature required efficient management and sustained investment.
The project is expected to create 430 jobs, with 30 per cent of the opportunities reserved for women. The facility will promote technology transfer and equip Ghanaian workers with specialised skills that could make them competitive in the international maritime industry. President Mahama described the project as an important addition to Ghana's maritime infrastructure and expressed optimism that it would strengthen the country's capacity to provide ship repair and maintenance services within the sub-region.
President Mahama highlighted that the investment would provide Ghana with the capacity to undertake major ship repairs and maintenance services within the country. He said the situation exposed Ghana's dependence on foreign maritime service providers and underscored the importance of investing in local capacity. The President recalled that during his previous tenure, the government faced difficulties maintaining some of the country's ageing naval fleet.
The President noted that the absence of a major ship repair facility along the West African coast had significant implications for vessel operators. He expressed confidence that the new floating dry dock would attract business from neighbouring countries and promote technology transfer. The facility will serve vessels operating across the Gulf of Guinea and create jobs for Ghanaian workers.
The project is a significant development in Ghana's maritime sector, and President Mahama expressed optimism that it would have a positive impact on the country's economy. The facility will reduce Ghana's dependence on foreign shipyards for naval vessel repairs and promote local capacity. Key points include the creation of 430 jobs and the promotion of technology transfer to equip Ghanaian workers with specialised skills.
Key points
- The project will create 430 jobs and promote technology transfer to equip Ghanaian workers with specialised skills.
- The facility will serve vessels operating across the Gulf of Guinea.
- The project will reduce Ghana's dependence on foreign shipyards for naval vessel repairs.
