Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister, has urged Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) to take quick action to make Takoradi Port the primary port of call for all cocoa exports in order to increase the employment possibilities that come with it.

The majority of Ghana's cocoa is produced in the Western and Western North regions.

According to CMC data, however, of the nearly 500,000 tonnes of cocoa that were shipped during the 2019/2020 cocoa season, 52% were shipped from Takoradi, 42% from Tema, and 6% from Kumasi.

Despite Takoradi being the hub for cocoa shipments, the business blamed this on the fact that only two or three transport lines called there.

Meanwhile, following the commissioning of the Atlantic Terminal Services Multi-purpose Container Terminal and other ancillary projects at the Takoradi port, the regional minister is advocating for more cocoa export through the Takoradi port due to its expanded volume capacity.

“I therefore appeal to cocoa marketing company to fast track efforts to make the port of Takoradi, their hub for all cocoa exporting in order to expand the associated job opportunity for the people in the region especially as with coming into operation, the ACT container and the multipurpose terminal by Ibis Tek ,and shipping lines can no longer have any excuse concerning draft limitations recalling at the Takoradi port .”

He continued, “I also want to make it clear that we have enough space at the Takoradi port for businesses, for shippers, for oil and gas companies and for tourism communities, in fact there is no congestion in the Takoradi port and the ease in doing business here in Takoradi is very excellent.”

The Atlantic Terminal Services Multi-purpose container terminal development is part of the container and multi-purpose terminal concession partnership between GPHA, IbisTek Limited, and AFC-Equity of the Africa Finance Corporation.

The terminal developed now presents a 600 metre quay wall at -16m water depth along the berths. There is also a terminal space of 9.8 hectares (98,000) square metres fitted with civil engineering terminal facilities and utilities services for container terminal operations.

Crane rails have been provided in anticipation of the most modern ship-to-ship (STS) container handling cranes.

The oil and gas services terminal to be developed will provide 21 hectares of serviced terminal area.