The Tema Port continues to serve as a key frontline in Ghana’s efforts to prevent the smuggling of illicit small arms into the country and the wider West African sub-region, Mr Isaac Kofi Adu, Deputy Port Security Manager at the Port of Tema, has said.
Speaking at a media forum organised by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Mr Adu noted that more than 90 percent of global trade is transported through seaports, making them attractive targets for organised criminal networks involved in arms trafficking.
He explained that unlike airports and land borders, seaports handle vast volumes of cargo, which can be exploited if security systems are inadequate or poorly coordinated.
To counter this threat, Mr Adu said security at the Tema Port had been strengthened through close collaboration among key agencies, including Customs, the Ghana Navy, the Marine Police, the Ghana Immigration Service and other security bodies.
He outlined several measures being implemented, such as quarterly joint security meetings, regular patrols at anchorage areas, joint cargo inspections, random checks on vessels and port personnel, and the use of sniffer dogs trained to detect weapons and concealed persons.
Mr Adu also disclosed that the GPHA was upgrading port infrastructure to enhance access control, including the introduction of biometric gate systems to better regulate entry and exit points.
He noted that particular attention was paid to vessels that berth without cargo, as such movements could be exploited for illegal exchanges.
While Customs leads cargo scanning and inspections, Mr Adu emphasised that port security personnel play a vital role in identifying suspicious concealments and promptly alerting preventive and enforcement units.
He called for sustained investment in advanced scanning technology, improved intelligence-sharing and continued inter-agency cooperation to close security gaps and safeguard Ghana’s ports from being exploited by illicit arms trafficking networks.
