By Ofoiwa Darko.
The Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen has engaged the Managers of the Meridian Port Services Limited, MPS, at the Tema Port, in the Greater Accra Region. MPS is the Operator of the Container Terminal at the Port.
Meridian Port Services, MPS, a Port Holdings, has Bolloré Transport & Logistics and APM Terminals, as its two main shareholders.
The CEO of Meridian Port Services, Mohamed Samara, said that MPS, which supervises construction of all port expansion facilities, is also providing Design and Procurement Management Services, prior to the award of construction contracts for the $1.5 billion Tema Port Expansion Project.
“Our mission is to deliver world-class maritime efficiency so as to become West Africa’s leading first port of call and a hub for global shipping. We also tend to provide excellent port services for the socio-development of Ghana and its hinterland”, he added.
Since 2019, Danish support, for maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, has primarily focused on Ghana and Nigeria. The Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, noted that the Danish Government will continue to support maritime centres, in West Africa, to enhance safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.
“Beginning 2022, Denmark will initiate a 5-year security programme, covering five countries, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria, to build on previous engagements”.
In 2021, Denmark further scaled up its engagement, in West Africa, by appointing a special representative for Maritime Security and investing an extra 1.5 million dollars, in the Denmark Security Programme. Currently, Ghana and Nigeria house the two biggest ports for Danish Shipping Companies.