Mr Richard Anamoo, Director of Tema Port, on Wednesday said the engagement of numerous private stevedore companies by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) could choke the ports. Mr Anamoo said this at a press conference in Tema in reaction to issues raised by four stevedore companies whose licenses had been withdrawn. Mr Anamoo said from 2002 to 2009, GPHA granted licenses to only six private stevedore companies to the already existing three to bring the number to nine. The four companies whose licenses had been withdrawn by management of GPHA are Odart Stevedor, Dashwood, CTS and Fountain View Stevedore. At a similar press conference on Monday, the four affected companies appealed to President Mills for assistance in the renewal of their licences. Mr Anamoo stated that these nine private stevedore companies which operated within GPHA had to renew their licenses annually. He explained that a qualified and selected applicant was to meet certain criteria, which included evidence of available equipment, manpower and financial resource. He further explained that the licensing of all stevedore companies was based on the evaluation of companies that had expressed interest in writing to GPHA to carry out stevedoring operations at the ports. Mr Anamoo said the quantum of projected traffic available to be stevedored each year, was limited, thus limiting the number of companies that should be licensed each year. As a result, not all those who satisfied the minimum required qualification could be granted license by GPHA, he said. Mr Anamoo said the reduction of the number of stevedoring companies had affected the financial and labour positions of the GPHA, Atlantic Port Services limited and the Speedline Stevedore Company. "GPHA had to lay off about 1500 workers so as to download 67 per cent of its operation to private operators," he said. Mr Anamoo said after considering over 18 additional applications, the current management of GPHA could only add four new companies to the existing five companies. He disclosed that an estimated 500 million dollars would be used to upgrade and expand the Takoradi Port. Mr Anamoo said the reduction had led to delays of h cargoes at the ports, exposing them to dangerous chemicals which was not only against safety regulations, but posed a grave threat to national safety. He called on the Ministry of the Interior to expedite action on the clearance of dangerous cargoes from the ports. Mr Anamoo said another challenge was the delay of scanners and appealed to the Ministry of Trade to review the current scanning regime. Source: GNA