Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Ekumfi, Minister of Ports and Harbour, has ordered the indefinite suspension of the planned extension of concession granted to the Meridian Port Services (MPS), a consortium of shipping companies. The Minister told Joy Business Report that even though the decision had long been taken; it has not been properly communicated to the stevedoring companies. “It is inconceivable that vessels would show up here with less than 50 containers. We have to get the lawyers to cause the necessary amendment; so the suspension means that we are going to wait till that portion is amended. So that we create an opportunity for the Ghanaian stevedoring companies to also operate,” Prof. Ameyaw-Ekumfi said. The local stevedoring companies have been up in arms against the management of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) over its move to extend the concession granted to MPs which is largely made up of foreign companies. Ghana Association of Stevedoring Companies (GASCO) and the six companies namely Golden Gate Services Limited, Odart Stevedoring Company Limited, Advanced Stevedoring Company Limited, Speedline Stevedoring Company Limited, Dashwood Shipping Agencies Limited and Fountain View Limited jointly sued GPHA and MPS. The companies, in a joint action on October 15 at the Commercial Division of the High Court, Accra, prayed the Court to place an injunction restraining GPHA and MPS from limiting their (stevedore companies) operations on Berths Three, Four and Five of Quay One among other claims. The local companies argued that the move by the GHPA will kick them out of business, compelling them to go to court. In a meeting with local companies, Prof. Ameyaw-Ekumfi assured them that the intended extension would not be implemented and urged the local stevedoring companies to withdraw the suit and promised to amend the aspects of the law. However, Madam Josephine Nkrumah, Executive Secretary of Ghana Association of Stevedoring Companies (GASCO), welcomed the Minister’s move but with caution. “We respect the Minister’s assurances; nonetheless, we are still on the alert. We want to ensure that by Friday we are in receipt of such documentation and then we will stay our court action. Because we don’t want a situation where we will withdraw the court action and then everything is delayed….” Story by Isaac Essel