Trade and Transport Ministers Secure Additional Berth at Tema Port to Prevent Cement Price Hikes

The Government of Ghana has taken decisive action to address severe congestion at the Tema Port, securing an additional berth specifically for clinker vessels to prevent an imminent hike in cement prices. This intervention follows a high-level meeting between the Minister of Trade and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, and officials from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA). The move is designed to clear a significant backlog of raw materials that has forced cement manufacturers to incur millions of dollars in demurrage costs, which threatened to be passed on to consumers. Government officials are prioritizing the stabilization of the construction sector by reducing the average vessel waiting time and streamlining the clearance of industrial inputs. Beyond the specific issue of clinker, the broader port enclave is facing a logistics crisis that has sparked safety concerns among local residents and the business community. Nana Asiamah Peprah I of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders reported that cargo transport times have nearly tripled, significantly inflating operational expenses for businesses reliant on road transport. The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has urged the GPHA to utilize additional properties for container storage to alleviate the spillover of trucks onto public roads, which has hampered emergency services and restricted access to major health facilities in the area. The congestion has reached a point where it impacts not only trade efficiency but also the daily lives of those living in the Tema Harbour enclave. During a tour of the facility, Ministers Ofosu-Adjare and Nikpe emphasized that while the additional berth provides immediate relief, long-term infrastructure upgrades are essential to prevent future bottlenecks. Plans are currently being discussed to allow larger vessels to berth and to expand the port's overall capacity to accommodate increasing cargo volumes. The ministers also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, referencing ongoing dialogue with Sierra Leone to develop African solutions for shared maritime and logistics challenges. As the GPHA works to enhance operations, the government remains focused on safeguarding the national supply chain and protecting the interests of both businesses and the general public from the ripple effects of port inefficiency.