President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, November 13, 2025, officially commissioned the newly expanded Tema Port, describing the multibillion-dollar development as “one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Africa’s maritime sector” and a major milestone in cementing Ghana’s role as the gateway to West Africa.
The ceremony celebrated the completion of phases one and two of the landmark public–private partnership between Meridian Port Services (MPS), APM Terminals, and other international partners. President Mahama highlighted the innovative financing model behind the project, which required no government funding and demonstrated Ghana’s capacity to attract private capital for national development.
Addressing key stakeholders, President Mahama emphasized that the expanded facility signified more than just improved infrastructure. “This project is more than a Ghanaian achievement. It is an African statement,” he declared, underscoring the port’s strategic role in enhancing regional trade, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose secretariat is based in Accra.
With enhanced capacity, deeper berths, and advanced operational systems, the new Tema Port is now the preferred first-call terminal for major shipping lines entering the Gulf of Guinea. Mother vessels can offload containers in Tema, which are then redistributed to ports in Monrovia, Freetown, Dakar, Douala, and other West African destinations. The upgrade also reinforces Ghana’s position as the primary transit hub for landlocked neighbours Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.+
The expansion has generated thousands of jobs during both construction and ongoing operations, boosting a wide range of supporting industries including logistics, transportation, warehousing, engineering, hospitality, and maintenance. President Mahama noted the project’s ripple effects, stating it had spurred “enterprise and innovation” and contributed to Ghana’s industrial diversification and long-term growth.
A significant milestone for local technology, President Mahama revealed that the artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm powering the port’s operational systems was developed by young Ghanaian engineers. He also announced that additional equipment is expected to arrive by early 2027, promising to further elevate efficiency and help Tema Port achieve its goal of becoming “the fastest-turnaround port in Africa.”
Looking ahead, President Mahama called for sustained investment in next-generation technologies and digital systems to ensure the port remains competitive in the evolving global trade landscape. Reflecting on the project’s legacy, he remarked, “A hundred years from now, I wonder how many of us will be alive, but our children and grandchildren will be here operating these ports.”
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to large-scale private-sector investment, President Mahama officially declared phases one and two of the expansion commissioned. He described the facility as a symbol of what visionary policy, private investment, and national ambition can achieve.
The expanded Tema Port now stands as a regional maritime powerhouse and a blueprint for Africa’s future infrastructure transformation.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
