The James Town Fishing Harbor, located in James Town within the Odododiodioo Constituency, has been officially commissioned by the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The President was joined today, Friday, September 13, 2024, by several high-profile personalities, including the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to mark the commissioning of this significant facility.
The grand edifice is designed to enhance Ghana’s fishing industry and demonstrates the government’s strong commitment to advancing maritime and fishing infrastructure to foster economic growth.
In his address President Akufo-Addo described the harbor as a “beacon of hope” for the people of the Ga Mashie enclave, serving as evidence of the successful outcomes that can emerge from strategic partnerships between Ghana and other states. He emphasized that the harbor is a testament to the government’s determination to fulfill a promise made to the people of James Town during his campaign—a promise backed by the necessary means to make it a reality. “I made a solemn promise to you, the people of James Town, that this project would one day become a reality. You were told by the naysayers that it was a political gimmick that would never see the light of day. But today, we stand here as witnesses to this great project,” he stated.
President Akufo-Addo also commended the efforts of former Ghanaian Ambassador to China, Ambassador Edward Boateng, who effectively managed the partnership between Ghana and China from the project’s inception to its completion.
The harbor aims to boost community safety and well-being by providing essential sanitation facilities to maintain hygiene and improve public health. It will enhance the town’s tourist infrastructure, ensure safe fish handling facilities and practices for improved catch quality, minimize post-harvest losses to support sustainable resource management and food security, and, importantly, create a wide range of employment opportunities.
The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, expressed gratitude to the President of Ghana on behalf of the Ga-Dangme clan and commended the government’s efforts in bringing this project to fruition.
The President of the Ga Traditional Council, highlighting the project’s commercial advantages, urged the youth of Ga Mashie to engage fully and acquire the necessary skills to join the elite workforce that will be employed at the harbor.
In this context, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II unveiled a partnership with the Design and Technological Institute in Accra, which will provide the youth of the Ga state with employable skills for their benefit and the nation’s advancement.
The James Town Fishing Harbor, which includes a fish market with 112 stalls, a 60-ton-per-day ice-making plant, and a cold storage capacity of 600 tons, is being celebrated as a landmark project that aligns with the government’s commitment to sustainable resource management and food security.
The facility also comprises a ship repair workshop, administrative offices, and fire safety systems to ensure efficient operations and long-term sustainability.
Among the dignitaries present at the commissioning were the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, the Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, and the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Tong Defa.