President John Mahama has disclosed that discussions are far advanced for Ghana to reduce the cost of marine gas oil by at least twenty percent.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is however expected to announce the ultimate decision and determine the subsequent implementation.
According to President Mahama, the reduction is expected to attract other maritime service entities to fuel in Ghana which will improve the country’s bunkering services.
“I’ve also explored with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), a reduction in the price of marine gas oil by more than 20% in order to make Ghana again the port of choice for bunkering in terms of loading up for ships of marine gas oil,” President Mahama remarked.
“Both to give a boost to our fishing fleets and to shippers who would decide to use Tema or Takoradi as their ports of choice,” the President added.
Government, in August this year reduced the cost of aviation fuel by 25 percent after the numerous concerns by the airlines operating in Ghana.
Ghana gets new air cargo centre
The President, who was speaking at the inauguration of the new Ghana Airport Cargo Centre (GACC) in Accra was also hopeful the move will culminate in government’s objective of making Ghana a transport hub across the sub-region and beyond.
According to him, the expansion of the Terminal 3 unit of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) coupled with the processes to secure a partner for the country’s national airline, among other interventions, will make Ghana a preferred option for players in the aviation industry.
Speaking at the inauguration, the director for Swissport Ghana, Christian Zweifel, commended the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) for its commitment to develop the status of the KIA.
Mr. Zweifel was also confident the operations of the GACC, will corroborate the efforts of the national single window program and further reduce the clearing times for businesses.
This he opined, will also make Ghana the destination port for businesses in the sub-region.
For his part, the CEO of Air Ghana, Marwan Traboulsi, lauded the PPP which in his view will reduce the burden on government’s purse in a bid to improve infrastructure in the country.
The multi-million dollar project, is a joint partnership between cargo airline; Air Ghana and the Ghana Airports Company Limited.
The facility which possesses hundred thousand tonnes capacity, is among others expected to improve cargo handling in Ghana and the sub-region.
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