The Chief Executive Officer of Ashanti Ports Services Limited (APSL), Isaac Afum, has revealed that the Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal (BILT), also known as the Boankra Inland Port project in the Ashanti region, will be completed and handed over to the government in November 2024.

During a visit to the project site, Mr. Isaac Afum, accompanied by APSL officials, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work on the $330 million project, which had faced numerous challenges over the past two decades.

Mr. Afum confirmed that the Ghanaian contractors, Justmoh Construction Limited, were on track with the project timeline. He anticipated that, barring any unforeseen obstacles, the project would be delivered as scheduled.

During the visit, earth-moving machinery was seen actively working on the terminal area, with approximately 80 percent of the filling already completed.

Once finished, the Boankra Inland Port will feature various facilities including an inland clearance depot, customs bonded and unbonded estates, commercial areas such as banks, offices, and trading facilities, vehicle parking and light industrial areas, as well as an administration block complex.

The project aims to provide services for importers and exporters in the middle and northern parts of the country, while also serving as a crucial transportation route for transit traffic to and from landlocked neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

Mr. Afum expressed optimism that the completion of the project would not only enhance business opportunities in the region but also generate employment for the youth through direct and indirect means.

He commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his support and confidence in selecting a local concessionaire for the development of the Boankra Inland Port.

“My gratitude also goes to the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah and the Shippers Authority for their continuous support and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for his role, advice, and unflinching support to the progress of the project,” he added.

According to the CEO, additional funding for the project has been secured, with Africa Export-Import Bank (Afeximbank) committing $280 million and an Italian financier providing an additional $100 million.

The Ghana Shippers Authority is the client for the project, and the concessionaire is Ashanti Ports Services Limited, a joint venture involving Afum Quality Limited of Ghana.

The Project Manager of the Boankra Inland Port, Jarrar Saddique, provided an update on the progress of work, stating that once the surfacing and drainage system were completed, the construction of structures would commence.

The Board Chairman of Ashanti Ports Services Limited, Nana Bugyei, expressed their commitment to supporting the successful completion of the project.

Furthermore, the project is expected to generate significant employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled labor.