Ghana’s Tema Port faces significant congestion and high logistics costs, directly impacting business operations and trade competitiveness. Maxwell Commey, Chief Executive Officer of Oro Oil Ghana Limited, has called for immediate, coordinated action to resolve these issues. He emphasized that weak inland connectivity further exacerbates the problem, increasing the cost of doing business across the nation.
These challenges are directly constraining trade and limiting opportunities for job creation within Ghana. Mr. Commey stated that agro-industrial firms, like Oro Oil Ghana, rely heavily on reliable and cost-effective movement of goods. The current inefficiencies directly affect their competitiveness, planning capabilities, and ability to create employment.
The persistent issues at Tema Port fit into a broader narrative of infrastructure bottlenecks hindering Ghana’s economic growth. Despite rising trade volumes, the port’s landside operations suffer from delays and yard congestion. Poorly maintained access roads contribute to accidents and higher operating costs for freight operators. This situation undermines Ghana’s ambition to become a regional trade gateway and a hub for industrialization.
“Ghana’s ports, particularly Tema, continue to grapple with congestion, high logistics costs and weak inland connectivity,” Mr. Commey stated. He added that these issues are not abstract for exporters and logistics players. For companies like Oro Oil Ghana, they directly affect competitiveness and job creation.
Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach. Decision-makers must prioritize targeted infrastructure upgrades, including port access roads, and embrace digitalization. Stronger private-sector participation and improved coordination among agencies like the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division are also critical. These steps are essential for reducing cargo dwell times and lowering overall logistics costs, which will benefit exporters and consumers alike.
The government’s response to these calls will be crucial for Ghana’s economic trajectory. Investments in integrated corridor projects, combining roads, rail, and dry-port links, are necessary. Such investments would reduce demurrage and inventory costs for exporters of products like palm oil and cocoa. This would also support job creation in logistics, trucking, and cargo handling sectors. The move would strengthen businesses and improve Ghana’s position as a regional trade gateway.
Mr. Commey stressed that every delay becomes an additional cost for businesses. A missing document or a container held too long in the yard leads to extra charges. These charges are inevitably passed on to consumers. Fixing inland connectivity and road infrastructure will transform bottlenecks into reliable flow, which is the decisive next step for Ghana’s trade ambitions.