Ghana: AfDB Approves $23.04m for Modern Floating Dock Facility

“Vessel repair and maintenance is an underserved market on the continent. Investing in it will provide a more holistic approach to supporting maritime transport and its sustainability, which will accelerate regional integration and attract international trade and economic activity.”
PMD is a Ghanaian company founded and headed by Mr. Stanley Raja Korshie Ahorlu, sponsor of the project. The African Development Bank’s approval and facility is a “culmination of many years of dedication and commitment and an endorsement of PMD’s drive to transform Africa’s maritime sector,” stated Ahorlu.
The African Development Bank’s hard currency long-term financing for the project will enable it to create over 400 permanent jobs – 15% of which are expected to go to women. This is significantly above the global average of 2% in the maritime sector.
The construction of the floating dock will enhance the resilience of the ocean economy in Ghana and mitigate the carbon footprint from an expected increase in vessel flow, promoting the use of renewable energy, energy efficiency and slow vessel steaming. This aligns with the International Maritime Organisation’s best practices and Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions, making the project Paris Aligned.
The project aligns with the African Development Bank’s Country Strategy Paper for Ghana (2019-2023) to increase private sector investment in the real sector. It contributes to job creation, bridging inequality gaps and supports the overall macro-economic stability in Ghana while mainstreaming various crosscutting issues into the bank’s interventions.
The project further aligns with the national ambition of Ghana to become a hub for shipping and petroleum operations in West Africa.

By enhancing the supply of maritime maintenance and repair services, the project will help minimise transport and logistic costs and time, resulting in increased mobility and connectivity and boosting Ghana’s competitiveness. Skills transfer is a significant development outcome of the project.

The project’s operations/technical and commercial management operator will train staff in its Aberdeen training institute, and a partnership will be developed with the Regional Maritime University in Tema, Ghana, throughout the project’s life.