President John Dramani Mahama has declared that the Tema Port will become the most efficient port in Africa within the next two years, following the completion of the $1.5 billion phase I and II expansion under the Meridian Port Services (MPS) project.
Speaking at the official commissioning, President Mahama highlighted the port’s state-of-the-art technology, deeper berths, and ultra-modern infrastructure as key drivers of efficiency and competitiveness.
“We were quite satisfied with the efficiency of that terminal because it brought some efficiency into the port that had not existed before. And so it was a beautiful partnership between GPHA and the MPS partners,” he said.
READ: Mahama launches $1.5bn Tema Port Phase I and II, aiming to boost jobs and regional trade
The President recounted the journey of the expansion, emphasizing the collaborative nature of public-private partnerships: “I challenged the MPS partners, including GPHA, and asked, can’t we build a new port? And they said, yes, we can build a new port… I said, you have my full support. They went to look for the money, and that’s where a lot of the work took place, between the shareholders, GAPOHA, the Ministry of Transport…”
Mahama underscored the port’s strategic role as a hub for West African trade. “Today, Tema Port is the preferred first stop for all ships coming to the Gulf Coast of Africa… we have feeder vessels that take containers from Tema Port all the way to Douala in Cameroon.”
He also highlighted the port’s use of homegrown technology, “The AI algorithm that this port uses was developed by young Ghanaians… several of those youth who developed the algorithm are working in this port, running the algorithm and operating it.”
The President concluded by stressing the importance of the port for national and regional development, “With great pride and optimism, I hereby declare phase one and phase two of the Tema Port Expansion duly commissioned.”
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
