MPS’ CEO optimistic for opportunities within AfCFTA
The Chief Executive of the Meridian Port Services, Mohammed Samara has encouraged producers and industries within the African Continent to take advantage of the benefits and discounts the free continental trade provides.
He said the blossoming port sector in Ghana for example provides an enabling environment to support industries in the new era of free trade.
The CEO of MPS called for more investments that will complement efforts in the ports sector to achieve the goals of AfCFTA.
“Angola all the way to Nouakchott, we are about 300-400 million producers and consumers so this is a huge market. If you look at the GDP of this block, it is about 700-800 Billion and that is quite a lot. Nigeria represents 220 million consumers. So we are growing to become half a billion consumers and beyond. If we target half a billion producers and they manufacture two shirts annually then that is a billion shirts to be consumed in this market annually which is a lot of cargo and a lot of industry to be built on. The market is huge and we encourage people to take advantage of the benefits and discounts AfCFTA provides so I encourage industries within and outside the continent to invest and in West Africa.”
Mohammed Samara also revealed that the Phase 2 of the Terminal 3 expansion project will be launched before end of May.
“This project will put at least 50-60 million-dollar investment into the country’s infrastructure. We have also placed on order additional cranes to the tune of 75 million. Basically, there is a 100-150 million lined up in a committed investment towards the expansion of the port infrastructure,” he said.
The MPS Chief Executive made these remarks in an interview with Eye on Port following a visit from a delegation from the AfCFTA Secretariat to the Port of Tema.
Ultra-Luxury Cruise Calls Port of Tema
The Seabourn Seajourn, an ultra-luxury cruise vessel has visited Ghana for the first time since 2020 when COVID-19 broke out.
Indeed, the vessel is the sixth (6) vessel to visit Ghana’s ports under three months, and the third to call the Port of Tema within the said period.
The 198-meter-long and 25-meter-wide vessel, operated by Seabourn Cruise Line and sailing under the flag of Bahamas, brought 330 tourists to Ghana as part of a cruise expedition across the Atlantic.
The Operations Manager at Inchcape Shipping Services, the ship agency responsible for the ship’s call to Ghana, Benjamin Quansah, revealed that Cruise Lines are always happy to come to the Port of Tema due to the security and procedures at the port.
The Chief Executive Officer of touring agency, Landtours Ghana, Mawuli Dzebu said the tourists enjoy Ghana and the country must look to expand its tourism potentials. He revealed that many cruise vessels should be expected in coming months, due to the end of COVID-19 pandemic which slowed down the global cruise industry.
The vessel is expected to continue its voyage to selected ports in the West Africa sub region on its expedition. It has visited Togo, Benin, The Gambia among other African countries in the past few weeks.
