President John Dramani Mahama has announced a directive for the Tema and Takoradi Ports to operate on a 24-hour basis as part of efforts to drive Ghana’s non-traditional exports and position the country as a key player in Africa’s agricultural transformation.
He made the announcement while delivering his keynote address at the opening of the 2025 Ghana Horticulture Expo on Wednesday, June 11, at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The President said the move is in line with the government’s 24-Hour Economy Initiative, which is expected to take off on July 1, 2025.
According to him, the policy aims to ensure continuous production, processing, and logistics in horticulture and other high-value agri-industrial activities.
“The Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Transport are working with the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Ghana Shippers’ Council, and other key stakeholders to soon declare the Tema and Takoradi Ports as 24-hour ports,” he said.
“It will not only be about working longer hours, it will be about building the infrastructure, the energy, the security, the transport and the data platforms that enable round-the-clock agri-industrial activity,” he explained.
Mr. Mahama stressed that Ghana’s export sector, especially horticulture, must shift from smallholder survival to international competitiveness, adding that timely port operations will help reduce post-harvest losses and maximise export value.
He further revealed that Ghana’s non-traditional exports exceeded $3.5 million in 2024, with horticulture leading the way, and that the target is to push this figure to over $10 million by 2030.
