Dutch Government Boosts Ghana’s Port Development

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands to Ghana, Hans Docter has stated that the Dutch government is committed to supporting Ghana to develop her main sea ports into first-class ports.

He said Ghana’s quest of becoming the shipping hub in the West African sub-region could only be realised if the ports were well developed.

Briefing journalists on the visit of the Dutch trade mission on board the HNLMS Rotterdam, the Dutch Royal Naval Ship, at the Tema Port on Friday, Ambassador Docter said Ghana’s sea ports hold a good prospect for the development of the country and stressed that efforts should be made to expand them to handle huge volumes of cargoes.

The visit of the trade mission under the auspices of the Netherlands African Business Council (NABC) was sponsored by the Dutch government.

“The Tema and Takoradi ports have been stretched to their limits and need modernisation,’’ he stated.

To demonstrate his government’s commitment to developing the country’s main sea ports, he said the Dutch government had developed a port project to assist African countries, particularly Ghana to develop her ports.

Dubbed Port Development Partnership (PDP) Africa-Netherlands, he said the ongoing project would link Dutch companies in the port and transport and logistics sector to Africa to contribute to the sustainable and long-term development of African ports.

In addition, Mr. Docter said the Dutch government supported the Dutch business delegation, representing 30 companies, in the country to explore business openings in the port industry.

A board member of the Netherlands African Business Council, Victor T. Langenberg who spoke on behalf of the delegation said the visit and discussions had been fruitful.

“We have had opportunity for discussions with the government and also has one-on-one meeting with some private sector companies well as some businessmen in the port industry,’’ he said.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Joyce A.B Mogtari, during a symposium on Port Development, said the modernisation of the country’s major sea ports remained a priority to government.

She said the vision of the government was to develop the ports to become the hub of sea transport in the sub-region.

Trade between Ghana and the Netherlands continues to grow. According to the Dutch Embassy in Accra, Ghana’s exports to Netherlands in 2012 stood at 1.1 billion Euros, while Netherland’s imports to Ghana amounted to 900 million Euros.

[mappress]

Press Release, October 7, 2013