‘Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal 50% complete’
Work on phase one of the Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal (BILT) in the Ashanti Region is about 50 per cent complete.
So far, civil works, earthworks, road networks, drainage systems, container freight terminals, container handling facilities, bonded warehouses, Administration and Operation blocks buildings have been done.
The remaining 50 per cent, made up of the superstructure and the terminal bay, are ongoing and expected to be completed in due
course.
The Project Coordinator, Dr John York, disclosed this when the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, and officials from agencies involved inspected the progress of the ongoing construction.
Initiated by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) in the 1990s and previously called the Boankra Inland Port, the BILT project was purposed to create a dry port as an extension to the Tema Port.
The project, funded by the government, is expected to increase the movement of goods and services in the country and also facilitate transit trade between Ghana and the landlocked countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
The CEO of GSA, Kwesi Baffour Sarpong, said that the journey had been marked by milestones and challenges, but government’s commitment to realising the vision of the BILT remained resolute.
He said, “BILT is a key component of the government’s initiated Ghana Trade and Investment Gateway (GHATIG) Programme, a crucial driver of economic progress and regional connectivity. Hence, this project holds immense significance for economic growth, reduce port congestion costs, overall transportation costs, and drive regional trade facilitation for Ghana and its neighbouring Sahelian countries.”
He added that it would further establish Ghana’s leadership role, especially within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). could access funding.
Asked why DBG partnered the Bank of Ghana to host the conference, she said DBG fostered innovation by supporting SMEs and start-ups through funding, mentorship and access to a network of industry and technical experts.
“The proximity of the project to the recently completed Kumasi International Airport and Ghana’s sea port will further establish Ghana as the region’s premier multimodal transportation hub in West Africa and beyond,” Mr Sarpong stated.
The Board Chair of GSA, Stella Wilson, was grateful that the minister visited the site and assured him of the full commitment of the GSA to ensure that the project enhanced the economic status of the middle belt and northern sectors of the country.
BY TIMES REPORTER