Japan Doles Out $20m To Expand Bosomtwi Fishing Harbour

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has invested $20 million into the expansion of the Sekondi Fishing Harbour to accommodate more fishing vessels and individuals that access the port.

The first phase of the harbor, which was constructed in 1998 as a landing site for 50 vessels, has now registered to over 100 vessels, resulting in congestion.

A research conducted by JICA prior to the commencement of the second phase of the project, established that apart from fishermen, an estimated number of 10,000 people, including fish mongers and other intermediaries, access the port on a daily basis.

Tomonari Takeuchi, the JICA representative, told newsmen in Sekondi-Takoradi last Saturday that overcrowding of the harbour had necessitated the expansion, which is almost 40% complete.

He said the project is being undertaken by TOA Cooperation to construct improved breakwater, canoe berthing facility, additional ice making plant, and additional administration block.

Other incentives alongside the construction include pavement of the area behind the fish handling shed, water tank, fuel tank and technical assistance (software component).

Mr. Takeuchi said since current registered inshore vessels had outnumbered the 50 for which the harbor was constructed, the Phase II expansion will open-up for almost 126 fishing vessels.

He added that phase II is a total improvement of phase I, as the ice making plant will produce extra 15 additional tonnes of ice a day to help fishers preserve their catch.

“As the ice making capacity in the harbor cannot cater for the increase of ice demand in accordance with the increase of ice demand landing volumes, fishermen are obliged to use low quality ice transported from neighbouring areas,” he said.

The phase II of the Sekondi Harbour construction started in 21^st April, 2016, and is expected to be completed by December 31, this year.

Mr. Takeuchi commended staff and managers of the harbour for effective maintenance of the facility, adding of all the ice plants installed by JICA in Africa, it is only the one in Ghana that is still efficient after almost two decades.

Captain Eben Kojo Afadzi, Director of  Port-Takoradi, explained that the overcrowding of fishing vessels at the port was a result of no proper landing sites for fishermen along the  coasts of Ghana.

He added that most fishermen prefer to land at the Sekondi Fishing Harbour, because they can have access to certain basic amenities like high quality ice blocks to preserve their catch for days while offshore.

By Bernice Bessey