MARITIME WORKERS FROWN ON LONRHO PORT

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Maritime and Dockworkers’ Union (MDU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has expressed worry about the construction of a private port at Atuabo in the Western Region by Lonrho Ghana Ports.

According to the MDU, the oil and gas Free Zone Port being built by Lonrho Ports violates PNDC Law 160 of 1986, which grants Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) the exclusive right to plan, build, develop, manage, operate and control ports in the country.

At the 58^th NEC meeting held in Tema, the MDU said “Council is worried that government has granted Lonrho Ghana Ports the right to build a Free Zone Port with exclusive right to provide oil and gas service to oil companies in the Western Region of Ghana.

The council said the port at Atuabo when allowed to be constructed “would undermine the security of the nation.”

They said the GPHA should have been allowed to develop the port as part of the expansion of the Takoradi Port, which they said “would improve the benefits to the country in the context of the Local Content of our oil industry.

“Council shares the view expressed by the Board of Directors of GPHA and other institutions that the building of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Port by Lonrho Ghana Ports is not in the interest of Ghana.

It called on the government to abrogate the agreements that “provides the exclusive right to Lonrho Ports to build a Free Zone Oil and Gas service port in the interest of the nation.”

The council expressed its readiness to work to ensure that the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority Act, (PNDC Law 160, 1986) was upheld and respected.

The council also deliberated on the economy, cedi depreciation, corruption, high utility tariffs, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), oil production, increased casualization in the maritime industry, problems of Volta Lake Transport Company (VLTC), as well as revamping PSC Tema Shipyard.

“Economic challenges had manifested in high rate of the depreciation of the cedi against other foreign currencies, regular increases of fuel prices, energy crisis, high cost of utilities, high inflation and high taxes, among others.

“Council expresses deep concern about the erosion of the purchasing power of workers by the high cost of living resulting in worsening economic conditions for many workers.”

Touching on corruption, the council said the canker was “becoming pervasive and rewarding to the extent that it is becoming an acceptable means to success.

It also urged the government not to pass the Plant Breeders Right Bill, which would give legal protection to the introduction and production of GMO foods in Ghana.

They also expressed concern about environmental issues related to the oil production, especially the death of about 21 whales that had been washed ashore in the oil communities and further expressed concern about issues on transparency in oil production.