The Central Regional Minister, Honourable Kwamena Duncan, has pledged the support of the Regional Coordinating Council for the establishment of a Freight Park at Akatakyiwa near Cape Coast.
The project, which is being facilitated by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), is intended to provide Truck parks, Hostel facilities for drivers, Mechanical workshops and repair yards. Strategically sited at the confluence of the major routes near Yamoransa, it is expected to serve traffic to and from Western to the Southern parts of the country and also from the mining areas of Obuasi in Ashanti to the Western and southern parts of the country.
The Honourable Minister made the pledge at a meeting with the Chief and Elders of Akatakyiwa, on one hand and a delegation of Ghana Shippers’ Authority, led by its Chief Executive, Ms Benonita Bismarck, on the other.
He applauded the Authority for its foresight in conceiving such a laudable project and also commended Nana Puma Kwadua XVIII and his Elders for acceding to the request of the Authority to release the 20-acre parcel of land for the project. He noted that the Government of His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is committed to delivering improvement in the lives of Ghanaians along the length and breadth of the country; and this project, besides enhancing the smooth flow of cargo, would also contribute in no small measure to this agenda.
He assured the Authority that the Regional Coordinating Council would be a key ally in ensuring that the project sees the light of day.
Ms. Benonita Bismarck, Chief Executive of the Ghana Shippers Authority, indicated that the project was conceived to address the challenges faced by shippers in the haulage of their import/export cargoes to and from the ports. “The Authority is committed to the development of such logistics projects for the benefit of shippers” she added.
She also noted that if Government would be able to enforce mandatory rest stops for haulage truck drivers, as a measure of mitigating accidents involving cargo trucks, then similar facilities would be required on other major routes.
On his part, the Chief of Akatakyiwa noted that traditional leaders are partners in the development process, therefore when the Authority approached them with the request for such a laudable project idea, they responded without hesitation. He however admonished the Authority that it would be needful, within the framework of its corporate social responsibility, to assist in addressing some of the development challenges of the citizens of Akatakyiwa.
