Government is to develop a new port at Mpakadan to facilitate the transfer of containers from rail to barges on the Volta Lake.

The project forms part of efforts to decongest the Tema Port and improve cargo movement to Northern Ghana.

Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, the Minister of Transport, said the initiative formed part of Government’s strategy to establish an integrated multimodal transport system linking rail, inland water and road transport.

He said the system would enable cargo arriving at the Tema Port to be transported by rail to Mpakadan, transferred onto barges through the Volta Lake to Buipe, and subsequently moved by road to destinations in northern Ghana and neighbouring landlocked countries.

The Minister made the statement during a working visit to the Volta Lake Transport Limited (VLTL) to inspect ongoing works towards the establishment of the new port and assess the company’s operational activities.

“Our thinking is to decongest the Port of Tema by creating a multimodal transport system. Goods will move by rail from Tema to Mpakadan, continue by lake transport to Buipe, and then be transported by road to other parts of northern Ghana and the landlocked neighbours,” he said.

Mr Nikpe said the proposed system would reduce pressure on Ghana’s major highways, lower transportation costs and improve the efficiency of the country’s freight transport sector.

He said it would also help to prolong the lifespan of road infrastructure by reducing the volume of heavy-duty freight vehicles using the highways.

The Minister announced that the Government intended to construct a port at Mpakadan to facilitate the loading of containers and other cargo onto barges operating on the Volta Lake.

He explained that the facility would serve as an interchange between the railway and inland water transport systems, allowing containers arriving from Tema to be transferred efficiently onto lake vessels destined for Buipe and other parts of the country.

The development is expected to form a critical component of Ghana’s emerging intermodal transport system by integrating the maritime, railway, inland water and road networks.

Mr Nikpe said the objective was to create a seamless cargo transportation chain that would improve turnaround times and make Ghana’s logistics sector more competitive.

He described the Volta Lake as one of Ghana’s significant but underutilised national assets and said Government was committed to maximising its economic potential through investments in ports, barges and cargo-handling infrastructure.

The Minister said the development of inland water transport would also create opportunities for economic activities along the lake, including trade, agriculture, tourism, warehousing and transport services.

Mr Nikpe commended the management and staff of VLTL for their dedication and resilience despite the operational challenges confronting the company.

He urged them to maintain the momentum and work together to transform the company into a viable transport agency.

He expressed confidence that the ongoing projects would become a significant achievement of the administration of President John Dramani Mahama.

“We are blessed with this resource, and the best thing is to utilise it. I believe that two years from now, we will all be proud that we are building the Ghana we want together,” he said.

The staff of VLTL expressed appreciation to the Minister for visiting the facility, describing the engagement as historic.

They said Mr Nikpe was the first Transport Minister to visit the facility in the past 10 years, adding that his interaction with staff had boosted their morale and renewed their confidence in the future of the company.

The workers assured the Minister of their commitment to supporting Government’s efforts to revitalise inland water transport and urged him to convey their dedication and achievements to the President.

The proposed transport system is also expected to strengthen Ghana’s position as a logistics hub for regional trade by providing an alternative route for transporting cargo to Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and other landlocked economies.

The initiative is expected to complement efforts to deepen regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by improving transport connectivity between Ghana and neighbouring countries.

Mr Nikpe said the transformation of VLTL would demonstrate the potential of inland water transport to contribute significantly to Ghana’s economic development.

He urged management and staff to work closely with other stakeholders to ensure that investments in the sector translated into efficient cargo and passenger services.

The Minister’s visit formed part of Government’s broader efforts to unlock the potential of the Volta Lake and establish it as a strategic component of Ghana’s national transportation and logistics network.

GNA