Recall the promise made by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo to the people of Elmina during his campaign— the construction of a fishing harbour among other developments.
On the 26th of May 2023, amidst grandeur and dignitaries including the Minister of Transport, the President commissioned the much-anticipated fishing harbour, promising prosperity for the people of Elmina.
However, five to six months after its commissioning, the reality paints a different picture. The canal meant for fishing vessels’ access to the port is clogged with sand, a result of substandard work supervised by the government. This obstruction poses significant challenges for vessels attempting to dock, even leading to near-capsizing incidents. Consequently, many vessels have refrained from utilizing the Elmina harbour, defeating its intended purpose.
A closer inspection reveals several incomplete structures within the harbour, suggesting a lack of due diligence in the construction process. Despite these evident flaws, the President overlooked these issues for the sake of political expediency, hastily inaugurating the project. Even the pavement blocks within the harbour have been removed due to their poor installation, highlighting the shoddy workmanship.
Today, the Elmina harbour stands deserted, as fishing vessels avoid the risk of capsizing, jeopardizing their catch, assets, and lives.
The NDC firmly believes that the people of Elmina have been shortchanged with a project unfit for its purpose, a mere white elephant. We implore the government to conduct an integrity survey to rectify these issues and ensure the harbour operates at its full capacity, stimulating Elmina’s local economy.
Additionally, we urge the government to prioritize the completion of all associated structures linked to the main harbour.
[SGD]
Aduko A. Obed
Communication Officer
KEEA Constituency
