The proposed Port of Keta has attracted interest from 42 local and international companies seeking to participate in its development, following the issuance of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

Major General Paul Seidu-Tenye Kulono, the Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), said the approval marks a key step in moving the project from planning into investor engagement.

He made the disclosure when presenting the EPA certificate to the Overlord of Anlo State, Togbui Sri III.

According to him, although 42 entities have expressed interest, GPHA will apply strict evaluation criteria before selecting partners for the project.

“We have received as many as 42 companies that have expressed interest to come and develop the port,” he said.

He added that expression of interest does not guarantee selection, noting that some applicants may withdraw once they assess the scale and requirements of the project.

“A lot of people will come. When you open the books and they see the scope of work, most of them will run away. But some of the names that have come up are credible names that we are sure that we will work with,” he stated.

Major General Kulono said GPHA will spend the next three months reviewing proposals and narrowing the list to four preferred bidders, after which financial, technical and governance due diligence will be carried out.

He also said work on the project headquarters is ongoing and is expected to be completed and operational by January 2027, following adjustments to the original plan.

He noted that the project is expected to generate economic activity along the corridor, particularly during the construction phase, with increased demand for local trades such as carpentry and masonry.

The port is also expected to support transit trade for landlocked countries including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, linked through the Eastern Corridor and planned rail infrastructure.

Major General Kulono added that environmental mitigation measures, including controlled dredging, will be implemented in line with EPA requirements.