Government is taking steps to create additional berths at the Tema Port for ships carrying clinker, as part of efforts to ease congestion and reduce delays affecting cement manufacturers.
The Ministers of Transport and Trade, Agribusiness and Industry are expected to visit the port in the coming days to assess available space and determine areas that can be allocated to support the faster clearance of clinker and other cement-making raw materials.
The congestion has resulted in delays in clearing clinker, exposing cement manufacturers to demurrage and other additional charges. These rising costs have been cited among the factors contributing to the recent GH¢12 increase in the price of a bag of cement.
Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe said the Tema Port is facing significant pressure due to limited space and growing cargo volumes, particularly containerised cargo.
Speaking on The Point of View on Channel One TV, Mr Nikpe said cement manufacturers currently have access to two berths but are seeking additional space to ensure their clinker shipments are cleared more quickly.
“The Cement Manufacturers, their problem is that we have allocated two berths for them. They want more berths so that their clinker comes, they will be cleared quickly,” he said.
He explained that the government would assess areas at the port that could be temporarily allocated to facilitate the clearance of cement raw materials and reduce the risk of demurrage.
Mr Nikpe also disclosed that the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has been instructed to urgently acquire two additional cranes to improve cargo handling at the port.
According to him, the new cranes are expected to augment the existing equipment and speed up the loading and offloading of cargo, helping to reduce delays faced by shipping lines.
“I also instructed the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority for them to acquire two cranes that will be able to load and offload quickly so that all the ships or all the shipping lines coming in with cargo would not have any issue in terms of delay that would have caused them to pay demurrage any longer,” he said.
The measures form part of broader efforts by government and port authorities to decongest the Tema Port and improve the efficiency of cargo clearance.
