Ghana Sets To Develop New Terminal At Tema Port

Ghana has closed deadline for expressions of interest to develop a new four-berth box terminal in in the country’s principal port of Tema.
In April, the Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority (GPHA), which runs Tema and Takoradi ports, had invited international terminal operators to submit their interest in designing, developing and operating a terminal on a 20-year concession.
The current move by Ghana to increase the capacity of Tema port is seen as contesting for the prime status of a hub port for West Africa. Tema port handled 840,00teu last year.

Ghana has closed deadline for expressions of interest to develop a new four-berth box terminal in in the country’s principal port of Tema.
In April, the Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority (GPHA), which runs Tema and Takoradi ports, had invited international terminal operators to submit their interest in designing, developing and operating a terminal on a 20-year concession.
The current move by Ghana to increase the capacity of Tema port is seen as contesting for the prime status of a hub port for West Africa. Tema port handled 840,00teu last year.
And while giving credence to Ghana’s ambition, a Ghanaian freight forwarder; Paul Kobina Mensah said that “While Nigeria is the largest economy in West Africa, its ports are very heavily congested, with ships often waiting at least a month at anchorage before they are able to berth,” he said. “At Tema they wait a maximum of four days – and with more investment in trucks we can offer a more efficient alternative to shippers and consignees.”
Mr Mensah, who is also chairman of the Takoradi division of the Ghanaian Institute of Freight Forwarders, said on the sideline of the recent World Cargo Alliance ( WCA) conference that Tema port is also fast becoming the most important gateway for Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, as well as Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire, which is two days away by truck.
The new terminal will have 1.2km of quay – or four berths of 300 metres each – and a depth alongside of 16 metres, which would represent a significant advance on other ports in the region.
However, Mr Mensah acknowledged that congestion also afflicted Ghana’s ports, but said the remedy was relatively simple: “better communication”.
He said: “As soon as the cargo is shipped to Ghana the information should be sent, so we can begin to prepare the documentation for customs. Better communication will lead to better efficiencies.”