Deputy Transport Minister announces soon to start full operation at Jamestown Fishing Harbour

The Deputy Minister for Transport, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, has indicated that the Jamestown Fishing Harbour will soon commence full operations following efforts to resolve key operational challenges at the facility.

The Deputy Minister made this known during a working visit to the harbour to assess activities at the facility and identify measures to improve its operations.

She was accompanied by the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, as well as other officials from the two ministries.

Construction of the Jamestown Fishing Harbour began in 2018 under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration led by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The project, which was funded through a $60 million Chinese grant, was expected to create employment opportunities for residents of Jamestown, boost fishing and trading activities, and increase revenue generation for both the community and the country.

However, despite its commissioning, the harbour has not been operating at its full capacity.
The modern fishing harbour, which had been anticipated since the 1960s when discussions first began about building a modern fishing port for the area, was officially commissioned on September 13, 2024, just months before the end of the Akufo-Addo administration.

According to Madam Affo-Toffey, one of the major challenges affecting the operations of the harbour was the lack of water supply.

Speaking to the media during the visit, she explained that the issue has now been resolved through the intervention of the Transport Minister and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
“The major problem was the water issue. Through the intervention of my boss, the Transport Minister, and GPHA, they have been able to resolve it.

They have also connected the facility to Ghana Water because without water they couldn’t operate,” she said.
She added that the ice plant and the fish market are currently operational, while work is ongoing to ensure that the cold store also begins operations soon.
“Our reason for coming here is to see how things are progressing and what has been delaying operations. Now the ice plant is working and the fish market is also functioning. The only thing left is the cold store, and they are working to ensure it becomes operational,” Madam Affo-Toffey stated.
The government says the full operation of the harbour is expected to significantly improve fishing activities in the area and enhance economic opportunities for residents.