Transport minister justifies appointment of director for non-existent Keta Port
The Minister for Transport, Kweku Ofori Asiamah has explained that government appointed Dr. Alexander Adusei Junior as director for the yet-to-be constructed Keta Port because President Akufo-Addo wanted someone to expedite his promise of building a port in the region.
Read full articleUpdating members in parliament, Mr Asiamah hinted although physical work was yet to be done, steady progress was being made to enable the construction of the port.
Responding to a question by the MP for Keta on the appointment of Dr. Alexander Adusei Junior as far back as 2018 when there were already five directors of port at the Ghana Port and Harbour Authority, the Minister detailed that President Akufo-Addo needed someone who had the technical expertise to see to the operations of the port site in Keta.
He noted that the someone was needed to personally supervise the construction of the Keta Port which was part of the campaign promises of the NPP for the Volta Region.
“…the President in his own wisdom thought that paying particular attention to the Keta Port was so dear to him that he needed somebody who had the technical expertise to see to the operations of the port.
“…he said that at the time that the person was appointed, there was no port, indeed there was no port but we needed to start the process, and the processes is part of the port that we’re putting in place” he noted
“We couldn’t just get up one day and put the structure there without going through the necessary steps that we needed to take.
“…that informed the president’s own wisdom in seeing to it that we have someone who has that technical capacity to pay particular attention, to dedicate his time to make sure that one of his campaign promises that he made to the people of Volta Region, which is the building of the port will come to pass.” He added.
Earlier this year MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also requested that government revoked the appointment of the director of Keta Port.
He said the Keta Port was "non-existing" and that it was unacceptable to create a picture as if the Port was operational.
Mr Ablakwa further argued that monies for salary and other benefits to the director of the "non-existing" Port could be channelled into addressing issues of potable water and fixing of bad roads in the region.
Speaking at a news conference organised by the Volta Region National Democratic Congress (NDC), the MP said Mr Adusei's appointment was a waste of the taxpayer's money because "almost a year on all that could be seen is a signpost that says, Site for Keta Port."
