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President John Dramani Mahama has said the expansion of the Albert Bosomtwi-Sam Fishing Harbour would make the facility the preferred fishing port in the country.

      He said the fishing harbour played an active role in the economic lives of residents in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis as a result of the many fishing vessels and boats operating there.

     President Mahama said this when he inspected the ongoing expansion works at the fishing port, as part of his “Changing Lives and Transforming Ghana” tour of the Western Region. 

     He said the expansion works became a reality after the Ghana Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Japanese Prime Minister to promote the fishing industry.

     He appealed to the electorate to conduct themselves decently devoid of any insults or violence in the upcoming December 7 polls.

    “Election is not a war, but a contest of ideas to improve the lives of the people”, he said, adding that “although the electorate would vote for their preferred candidates only God enthrones a king”.

   Mr Richard Anamoo, the Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), who briefed the President on the expansion works, said the estimated cost of the project was two million Japanese Yan, equivalent to GHC65 million, and it is being funded by the Japanese Government. 

       He said the project involves the expansion of the breakwaters, creation of new berthing space, walkways, lay-by wharf of 180 meters, a water facility, as well as expansion of the tonnage of the ice plant to 30 tonnes.

    Mr Anamoo said the project also involves the construction and upgrading of roads and driveways saying the expansion would make the fishing port more attractive for businesses and responsive to the needs of the growing maritime industry.

The expansion also formed part of the second phase of the Takoradi Port expansion and more than 1,200 people are expected to be employed for the project.

The project is being executed by the Japanese engineering consultants; Environmental Consults for Ocean and Human (ECOH) and would be completed in December 2017.