By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Kedzi (V/R), Sept. 4, GNA-Residents of Kedzi, in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region, have expressed satisfaction over the pace of construction of the new Keta Port Office Headquarters project.
They described the speed of construction as commendable, which indicated a clear sign of seriousness and development towards the project as well as the progress of the area.
Mr Mawuko Senaki, a resident of the area, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said that other information gathered revealed that the construction was part of the broader Keta Port development project being undertaken by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) for the development of the area.
“The project has already begun yielding tangible benefits for the community, particularly through the employment of local youth as labourers, artisans and support staff on the construction site,” he said.
He said that the development had provided a much-needed boost to the local economy, with many young people now earning an income and contributing to household upkeep within Kedzi and its surrounding communities.
Mr Sanaki explained that the sight of the port office which was rising steadily has renewed hope among the youth, many of whom had previously struggled to find employment opportunities within the area and commended the contractors handling the project for maintaining a consistent pace and for engaging local artisans, including carpenters and masons, in various aspects of the construction.
“The construction firm has demonstrated a high level of professionalism and commitment; the quality and speed of work so far have exceeded our expectations with the scale of the project and its significance to the region.”
The residents indicated that the port office which near-completion was generating excitement within the community, as many now look forward to the opportunities that would come with its full operationalisation, including direct employment at the facility and business opportunities linked to its operations.
The residents explained that when completed, the port office and the broader port itself would open doors for many within Kedzi and neighbouring communities to either establish their own businesses or secure formal employment, whether with the GPHA, private port operators, or other service providers expected to set up in the area.
They appealed to the Authority to prioritise the training and recruitment of qualified local youth once the facility becomes operational and pleaded that residents within the immediate catchment area should not be overlooked in favour of outsiders when job opportunities eventually become available.
Meanwhile, Major General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono (Rtd), Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, has given an assurance that the new Port Headquarters at Keta would be fully operational by January 2027, despite the project’s original target of June 2026.
Speaking during an earlier community engagement forum held at the Lagoon View Hotel in Keta to update stakeholders, he said the timeline had since been revised after engineers detected deficiencies in the original scope of works, which necessitated a variation to the contract to avoid costlier corrections later.
He disclosed that the Central Tender Review Board had since approved the request for the variation in scope, paving the way for construction to proceed toward the January 2027 completion target.
The Director-General noted that the Authority had also secured the requisite Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permit confirming the suitability of the site for the broader port development, which was a major milestone for the entire project.
Major General Tanye-Kulono stated that the construction phase would create opportunities for local artisans, including carpenters and masons, and urged parents to encourage their children to pursue port-related courses and certifications so they would be qualified to take up jobs at the port once it becomes fully operational.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Linda Asante Agyei