Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry convened an emergency meeting with cement manufacturers on to address prolonged port congestion that has left clinker shipments stranded at the harbour, raising costs across the industry.
The meeting, held jointly with Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe, focused on operational bottlenecks at the port that have delayed the discharge of clinker, a key input in cement production, for as long as two to three weeks. Industry executives said vessels are currently waiting between 13 and 20 days to berth, attracting demurrage charges that are compounding financial strain on manufacturers.
Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers Ghana, Bishop Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, described the situation as critical, warning that the cement industry is “leaking” financially due to mounting demurrage costs. Manufacturers cautioned that sustained delays could eventually translate into higher retail cement prices if operational inefficiencies are not resolved.
While acknowledging ongoing dredging works at the port, industry players called for interim relief measures. Proposals included temporary access to additional berths and authorisation to handle non-dust producing raw materials such as gypsum and slag at alternative berths to ease congestion.
Responding to the concerns, Nikpe said government is accelerating dredging works to expand berth capacity and accommodate larger vessels. He noted that current berths can only handle vessels of up to 8,000 tonnes, contributing to congestion and extended turnaround times.
Once completed by the end of June, the expanded capacity will enable the port to receive vessels exceeding 20,000 tonnes, a move expected to reduce vessel traffic and waiting periods significantly.The minister added that portions of the dredging works, particularly around Berth 14, are expected to be completed within one to two weeks, providing partial relief ahead of the full project completion.
Ofosu-Adjare emphasised that government’s intervention is not solely aimed at preventing price hikes but also at addressing structural inefficiencies affecting manufacturers.“If we want good prices, we must also perform our part of the bargain to ensure that production costs remain efficient,” she stated.
She added that even a single day of delay in business operations can translate into millions of dollars in losses, underscoring the urgency of the response. The Trade Ministry, she said, moves swiftly when industry concerns are raised and expects measurable improvements within one to two weeks through coordinated action with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and private operators.
President of the Association of Ghana Industries, Pharm. Kofi Nsiah-Poku, commended the ministers for their prompt engagement and collaborative approach. He expressed optimism that interim measures expected within two weeks, combined with full dredging completion by June, would restore operational efficiency and reduce production costs, potentially enabling manufacturers to pass on savings to consumers. The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from government and industry stakeholders to safeguard the competitiveness of Ghana’s cement sector and prevent supply disruptions or price shocks in the domestic market.
With partial dredging relief anticipated within weeks and full berth expansion expected by mid-year, stakeholders signalled cautious optimism that congestion and excessive demurrage costs will no longer pose a structural threat to cement production and pricing stability.
