'Govt Serious About Developing Volta Region�

The Minister of Transport, Alhaji Collins Dauda has reiterated government�s resolve to bring economic development to the Volta region and for that matter the entire country. The minister made these observations when a delegation comprising chiefs and people of the Keta Municipality and led by the Awoamefia of the Anlo Traditional Area, Togbi Sri III, Dumega Raymond Okudzeto, an elder statesman of the traditional area, Sylvester Tornyeavah, MCE for Keta and Larsey Agbenyefia MP for Keta paid a courtesy call on him and his deputy Dzifa Attivor last Monday. The delegation was at the ministry to brief the minister and his Deputy about efforts being made by the chiefs and people of the area towards the construction of the proposed harbour at Keta. According to Dumega Okudzeto, who was the spokesman for the delegation, Keta formerly had a sea port but it was destroyed by the sea. However, with the coastal reclamation, it could be re-constructed into a modern sea port. He added that the project would complement the proposed eastern corridor road network linking northern Ghana and the Sahel regions and that would eventually provide jobs for many unemployed youth along the corridor. The elder statesman pointed out that the people in the area have realized that government alone cannot satisfy the needs of all Ghanaians, stressing that they therefore took the initiative by inviting a South Korean engineering company called DY Engineering with worldwide expertise in the construction of ports and harbours to assist in the preparation of a feasibility study for the proposed harbour, taking into consideration the huge oil and gas find in the entire Voltarian Basin, which stretches from Keta to the northern part of Ghana. The group has already visited the proposed site at Keta, carried out spot check and agreed to undertake an immediate feasibility study at no cost to the government of Ghana. They also expressed interest in undertaking the project on a Build Operate and Transfer basis (BOT). The Director-General of Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority (GPHA), Nestor .P. Galley, who was at the meeting, briefed the delegation about government�s intention to construct the proposed harbour. He said a firm had already undertaken a similar study for the construction of the harbour but it fell short of the requirements of authority. The Transport Minister however directed the GPHA boss to give permission to the Koreans to undertake the study at the company�s expense and submit a report to the government within six months for government to study. Hon. Dauda again commended the chiefs and the people of the area for taking interest in the project but disclosed that government would need parliamentary approval. According to him, a lot of companies had come to his office for similar purpose but were unable to meet the criteria after due diligence was done. On her part, Hon. Dzifa Attivor also assured the delegation about the government�s intention to ensure the total development of the region and for that matter Ghana. She urged the citizens to establish allied business firms to assist in the development of the oil industry because of the huge off shore and on shore crude oil discovery. Togbi Sri III, Awoamefia of Anlo, in his remark, said he was grateful to the Minister and his deputy for the warm reception accorded them. He stated that the development of the Volta region was very dear to their hearts as it would help absorb highly educated youth roaming the streets in search for non-existing jobs. He assured the minister and his deputy that they would be ready to support government in all projects and put their technical and business expertise and services at the disposal of the firms coming to the region.