<<Print>>

The Cabinet has approved the transfer of the PSC Tema Shipyard and dry dock company limited (PSCT) to the Ghana Ports And Harbour Authority (GPHA).

Additionally, it has approved the affirmative action bill and the second tranche financing of the modernization of the Kumasi Central Market and the Kejetia infrastructure projects.

The decisions were taken by the Cabinet on the authority of the President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, at its 41st meeting in Accra.

A statement signed by the Minister of Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, and issued in Accra yesterday said the transfer of the PSCT to the GPHA was to ensure the upgrade, sound management and effective operations of the two entities.

“The Ministry of Petroleum is to take over the offshore mooring facility from Trafigura (free from encumbrances) at the end of the concession period for the use of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) over a period of fifteen (15) years,” it said.

It  said the decision for the ministry to take over the offshore mooring facility was part of concrete steps being taken by the government to comprehensively reposition TOR in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector to offer regular supply of petroleum products to the public and Ghana’s neighbouring countries.

Mooring facility 

The statement explained that the  transfer of the PSCT to  the GPHA and the provision of the mooring facility for the use of TOR were expected to contribute significantly to national efforts  to create more jobs through diversification and value addition  to the nation’s natural resources.

 

“The government expects that in the long term, the PSC Tema Shipyard should be able to attract the needed resources to venture into the building of Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels for the oil and gas industry, even as it continues to provide services for the ports and harbours and related sectors in the short to medium term,” it said.

It said in addition, the mooring facility, which is a loading buoy anchored offshore, would serve as a point of interconnection for tankers loading or offloading gas or liquid petroleum products. 

Other approvals 

Concerning the Affirmative Action Bill, the statement said its approval by Cabinet sought to advance and ensure women’s empowerment with the view to according females the enabling and progressive environment in Ghana to optimally achieve their aspirations without the barriers and the impediments they had faced perennially and perpetually over time.

It said President Mahama urged all Ghanaians, including traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, workers, academia and students, to support the passage of the bill as it made its way to Parliament for consideration and approval.

According to the statement, Mr Mahama said considering the progress Ghana had made in its democratic journey, the Affirmative Action Bill was deemed to be appropriate, responsive, fit for purpose, progressive and long overdue.

Kumasi projects

Touching on the Kumasi projects, it said the second tranche financing of the modernisation of the Kumasi Central Market and Kejetia infrastructure projects at a cost of US$97.4 million had also been approved. 

 “Ongoing works on the modernisation of the Kumasi Central Market and the Kejetia infrastructure projects being worked on by 340 workers have reached an advance stage and will provide a modern and befitting environment for traders and their customers, particularly women who regularly visit the market,” it stated