Management of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has assured the general public that calm has returned to the Port of Tema and vessel activities have resumed after the Local Labour Unions of the GPHA staged an industrial action over the handling of 20% container traffic.
The Authority currently has between twelve (12) sailed vessels and berthed eleven (11) vessels.
It regrets the hold-up of vessel operations in the port and extends its apologies to all stakeholders including the Shipping Lines, Importers and Exporters, Freight Forwarders, Transporters and Transit Partners.
It would be recalled that on Tuesday and Wednesday 12th and 13th July 2022, the Local Labour Unions of the GPHA staged an industrial action over the handling of 20% of container traffic.
However, according to a press statement issued by Mrs Esther Gyebi-Donkor General Manager, Marketing And Corporate Affairs and copied to IGOGHANA, Management is said to clarify the issues as follows:
1. That, when the original concession agreement between MPS and GPHA was signed in 2015, it did not include the 20% container traffic share for GPHA. The 2015 contract allowed MPS to exclusively handle all container traffic.
However, an appeal was made to the President of the Republic, His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa AkufoAddo to intervene, culminating in a Cabinet decision in 2019 for MPS to cede 20% share of container traffic to GPHA.
2. That, upon the Cabinet decision, the Management of GPHA and MPS have held several discussions and negotiations to work out the technical and financial details needed for implementation. The GPHA Unions, however, felt the implementation had been delayed, hence the agitation on the 12th and 13th of July 2022.
3. That, on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, the Director General and Management again met with MPS on the matter, after which Management appealed to the Unions to call off the industrial action with an assurance that a resolution was imminent by Thursday, July 14, 2022.
4. That after a crunch meeting on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, involving the Minister for Transport, a Deputy Minister for Transport, the Board Chairman, the Director-General, the Director of Port of Tema and the Chief Executive Officer of MPS, a letter was issued under the hand of the CEO of MPS, Mohammed Samara indicating the willingness of MPS to cede the handling of the 20% gateway container traffic to GPHA for two years effective 1st August 2022.
5. That Management assures all staff of its commitment to ensuring effective implementation.
6. That the Authority reiterates its resolve to continue delivering efficient services in a safe and secure environment to its valued stakeholders.
