Government officials say dredging works at Tema Port will allow larger vessels carrying clinker and other bulk cargo to dock directly at the facility, a move expected to reduce shipping delays and ease cost pressures for Ghana’s cement industry.
Sampson Ahi, Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, joined Joseph Bukari Nikpe, Ghana’s Transport Minister, and other officials to inspect the dredging of Berths 13 and 14 at the port. The visit adds to government’s effort to improve port efficiency and lower the cost of doing business in the West African nation.
Speaking during the inspection, Ahi, on behalf of Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said delays in offloading clinker at the port had long been a major challenge for cement manufacturers, forcing them to pay significant demurrage charges that ultimately raised production costs and retail prices.
“This intervention will support the cement business in the country and help reduce unnecessary delays at the port,” he noted, adding that collaboration between ministries and agencies is key to lowering the cost and time involved in doing business in Ghana. Transport Minister Nikpe said the dredging will allow larger vessels carrying up to 65,000 tons of clinker and other materials to berth directly at Tema. Previously, such vessels had to discharge part of their cargo at Takoradi before proceeding to Tema.
He said the change would reduce congestion and speed up cargo handling, giving cement producers quicker access to raw materials. Officials confirmed that Berths 13 and 14 are now ready to receive larger ships, a development they say marks a step toward improving port operations and reducing logistics costs in Ghana. In a remark, the Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, said the dredging project is intended to improve port efficiency and accommodate bigger vessels.
He indicated that the deeper berths will significantly reduce turnaround time for ships and help lower operational costs, benefits that will ultimately be passed on to consumers. He added that the full dredging works are expected to be completed by mid-June, positioning the port to operate more efficiently and support government’s vision of a 24-hour economy while creating more jobs and wealth for Ghanaians.
Government officials commended the port authorities for delivering the initial phase of the project within the promised timeline, describing it as an example of effective inter-agency collaboration to support economic growth and improve service delivery.The inspection follows a meeting convened by the Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Ministry in February with the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers Ghana and the Transport Ministry to address shipping delays at the port.
