By Bright Ntramah
President Akufo-Addo has inaugurated an ultra-modern James Town Harbour in fulfillment of a promise made to the people of Jamestown during a campaign tour in 2016. The project which began in August 2020 was completed with a Chinese facility of 60 million dollars. President Akufo-Addo who officially opened the Habour for use noted that it will create jobs, empower domestic economies, and revitalize the lives of the fisherfolk and traders of Jamestown.
The Jamestown Fishing Harbour, a state-of-the-art facility, has been eagerly anticipated since the 1960s, when discussions of constructing a modern fishing port for the area first began. For years, these plans remained unrealized, leaving the people of Jamestown and the broader Ga community with unmet expectations. Today, however, the harbour stands as a testament to the government’s commitment to action, with President Akufo-Addo proudly delivering on a decades-old promise.
The modern onshore facilities provided at the James Town Habour will enhance the quality of fish handling and storage. The imposing edifice has an administrative building, a 200-capacity fish market, market stalls, an ice-making plant with a capacity of 60 tons per day, a cold store with a capacity of 200 tons, a repair workshop, a daycare center, and police and fire stations.
“This moment is the culmination of years of effort and the realization of a long-held dream that began as far back as 1965. Promises were made, hopes were raised, but no substantial action was taken—until now. Today, we move beyond rhetoric to action,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo, who has personal ties to the Jamestown area, having grown up in the nearby Korle Wokon, expressed his deep satisfaction in bringing this project to fruition. He recalled the day in December 2018 when he cut the sod for the project and the naysayers who doubted the port’s completion. “In October 2020, I returned to inspect the progress, and today, here we stand together as witnesses to the fulfilment of that commitment,” he noted with pride.
President Akufo-Addo who was elated the Project has been completed noted that it will inject new energy into the heart of the James Town community. He commended the Chinese government for the support in completing the Project.
The President highlighted the socio-economic significance of the project, stating, “This port is a symbol of hope, proof of the resilience and determination of our people, and a concrete manifestation of what we can achieve when we work together for the common good.”
The President underscored his government’s understanding of the critical role agriculture and fisheries play in Ghana’s economy, noting that the fishing sector supports over 2.6 million livelihoods and contributed US$263.2 million to the nation’s GDP in 2020.
“This harbour is not just a monument to progress; it is a vital lifeline for socio-economic empowerment, job creation, and improved livelihoods. We are investing in superior infrastructure to reduce post-catch losses, improve fish catches, and reduce our dependence on imported fish,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru, asked for a quota to be allocated for the youth in the area to benefit from the project.
Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Tong Defa, said China will always be a strong supporters Ghana’s Socio economic development.
