NDC foot soldiers’ timely intervention prevented removal of shipyard equipment – CEO 

Alhaji Osman Sulemana, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PSC Tema Shipyard Limited, has disclosed that the intervention of party foot soldiers prevented the unlawful removal of some equipment from the shipyard during its inactive period.

Alhaji Sulemana said valuable machines and tools stood at risk of being moved out of the facility when operations were halted for nearly three years.

He made this known while addressing the media after the Board of Directors of the company toured the facility to assess its current state and plan, noting that some equipment was left exposed, leading to significant deterioration.

The CEO added that when the new management team took over, the shipyard had become overgrown with thick vegetation and was infested with reptiles, making the environment unsafe and unsuitable for industrial work.

He indicated that immediate steps were therefore taken to clear the premises to allow renovation works to begin and to prepare the yard for operation, noting that while many of the existing machines were in poor condition, a careful assessment had been conducted to determine which equipment could be salvaged immediately.

 Alhaji Sulemana said some machines were repaired and others restored, but a few critical components needed replacement, to enable the shipyard to resume basic full operational activities, adding that these interventions were necessary to stabilise the facility and restore confidence in its capacity to function as a strategic maritime asset.

During the tour, officials of the shipyard explained that significant renovation works had been undertaken across the facility, which included rehabilitation works at the docks, upgrades to the electrical substations to improve power reliability, and ongoing improvements within the general compound. 

It was noted that the slipway was now operational, allowing vessels to be hauled for maintenance and repair, while the canteen had been restored to serve workers on site, contributing to improved welfare and productivity.

The officials, however, appealed for the replacement of some major tools, including the giraffe crane, which was essential for heavy lifting operations at the yard, and also raised concerns about leaking roofing sheets in the marine workshops, noting that prolonged exposure to water posed risks to both equipment and personnel.

The officials further revealed that majority of the machines currently in use at the shipyard were legacy assets dating back to the era of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, with no major replacements or modernisation efforts undertaken since that period, stressing the urgent need for modern machinery to support shipbuilding, repairs, and steel fabrication. 

Mr Peter Mensah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, described the state of the facility at the time of takeover as highly unconducive for any meaningful industrial activity and explained that basic infrastructure had collapsed and safety conditions were poor. 

Mr Mensah expressed confidence in the progress made so far, saying that the upgrades already completed demonstrated what could be achieved with sustained investment and institutional support. 

He stressed that with further modernisation, the shipyard could play a critical role in Ghana's maritime economy, reaffirming management's commitment to transforming the shipyard into a modern and competitive maritime facility that meets demand at the national, regional and worldwide levels.

GNA