Accra: The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has stressed that congestion at the Tema Port alone cannot justify recent increases in cement prices, stating that several operational and commercial factors influence the cost of bringing clinker and cement into the country.
According to Ghana News Agency, the GPHA acknowledged a statement from the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG), which attributed the recent increase in cement prices to congestion at the Port of Tema. However, GPHA emphasized its responsibility to serve all port users while maintaining a safe and hygienic environment for port operations.
The authority highlighted the need to separate the handling of food-related cargo, such as rice and wheat, from cement and clinker operations, which affects berth allocation and usage. To accommodate increasing vessel sizes and cargo volumes, GPHA has undertaken strategic dredging of the Tema Port's bulk cargo section, specifically for clinker and cement.
Cement companies were informed in advance about the dredging project, its duration, and the need to plan vessel arrivals and berthing schedules accordingly. The completed dredging works have benefited the cement industry, with Berth 13 now providing depths of up to 14 meters and Berth 14 up to 12 meters, allowing for larger vessels and potential reductions in unit logistics costs.
GPHA explained that Terminals 1 and 2 of the Tema Port serve multiple purposes, handling various cargoes, including food products, steel, and other general cargo. For safety and environmental reasons, cement and clinker cannot be handled alongside food-related cargo.
Berths 3, 12, 13, and 14 have been designated as common-user berths for cement and clinker cargoes, shared among several cement companies, and not dedicated exclusively to one importer. GPHA also noted that the Port of Takoradi offers an alternative for handling cement and clinker cargoes within Ghana's maritime logistics network.
The authority encouraged cement manufacturers to consider the most efficient combination of ports, vessel sizes, discharge arrangements, and inland transportation in their operations. Efficient cargo evacuation is critical to reducing berth occupancy, as inadequate or delayed trucking can slow down discharge operations, leading to prolonged berth occupancy and increased pressure on port operations.
GPHA is working to modernize cement and clinker handling at the Tema Port by adopting more efficient cargo-handling systems and phasing out traditional reliance on grabs and hoppers. Cement companies are urged to invest in new handling technology to improve discharge rates, reduce vessel turnaround times, and optimize berth utilization.
Emphasizing that port efficiency is a shared responsibility, GPHA called on stakeholders to consider the entire logistics and supply chain, including vessel planning, discharge efficiency, trucking, factory location, port choice, and other commercial cost factors, rather than attributing cement price increases solely to port congestion.
GPHA reaffirmed its commitment to working with the cement industry and other stakeholders to enhance berth utilization, cargo evacuation, and the overall efficiency of Ghana's ports.