Gov�t Makes Breakthrough...

The government has made a big breakthrough with the establishment of the Boankra inland port, which for many years has been on the discussion table. Additionally, the government has taken bold steps to actualizing the dream of the Tema-to-Kumasi railway line, which forms the eastern corridor. Yesterday, the Ministry of Transport signed an agreement with Transaction Advisors led by Price WaterHouse Coopers to begin the process of getting the process done. The World Bank, with $30milion, is financing the Public Private Partnership (PPP) project towards developing the entire project and financing for it. The sector minister, Mrs. Dzifa Aku Attivor, in a remark before the official signing, said government budgetary resources are inadequate to provide transport infrastructures. �It is therefore essential that government seeks alternative financing arrangement that would ensure adequate investment in the provision and maintenance of various infrastructure and services in the country,� she explained. Following the development of a Public Private Partnership policy framework by government, the minister said her ministry has worked closely with the Public Investment Division of the Ministry of Finance on a number of transport projects to be financed through PPP, the key among them is the Boankra Inland Port and Eastern Railway Line project�s. With the signing of the contract with price WaterHouse Coopers, the minister said they would be expected to do feasibility studies, develop financial and economic models, as well as manage procurement evaluation and negotiations for the engagements of a private sector partner. She urged the Transaction Advisors to work in an efficient and timely manner to achieve the desire objectives. These objectives, she pointed out, will translate into facilitating trade as it would bring imports and export services closer to the door steps of shippers in the northern part of Ghana, as well as the landlocked countries, including Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. On his part, the Senior Partner for Price WaterHouse Coopers, Mr. Felix Addo, said the whole process will last a 24-month period. According to him, all the partners have the best in managerial capacity, adding that they are of international standard and experience who have been involved in most local projects. The Director of Public Investment Division at the Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Magdalene Apenteng, said PPP is a strategic tool for national development.