The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has revealed that more than six private investors have shown interest in collaborating with the government to construct and operationalize the Keta Port in the Volta Region.
This development comes as the project awaits the completion of an environmental and social impact assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a key document that potential partners require to finalize their proposals.
Michael Luguje, Director-General of GPHA, noted that while investor interest is strong, the government has yet to receive formal proposals.
“We started engaging potential investors while waiting for the environmental and social impact assessment by the EPA. So far over six different companies, local and international, have expressed interest in partnering with the government to build that port.
“But they also need the environmental and social impact assessment report to help them inform and refine the proposals they will be submitting to us,” he quipped.
The delay in moving forward with the port’s construction has sparked frustration among local residents, despite the official designation of Keta as a port site by President Akufo-Addo in 2018.
Mr Luguje expressed optimism that the EPA’s report will be ready within the next one to two months, after which it will be presented to the interested investor parties.
This, he hopes, will lead to more concrete proposals and the eventual realization of the port project.
“We hope that in the next month or two, if we get the report released by the EPA, then we will submit it to these investors and then they will go through and then work towards giving us much more concrete proposals on what kind of partnership they want to have with us to build and operate the Port of Keta,” he noted.