The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) is to commence extensive dredging of the Tema Port aimed at increasing the harbour’s depth to ensure it receives larger vessels.
This was revealed by Brigadier General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, the Director General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), in an engagement with the media.
Brigadier Tanye-Kulono said arrangements for the dredging exercise were at an advanced stage, with actual works expected to begin by the end of next August.
He said currently, the depth of the Tema Port was about eight meters, indicating that they intended to dredge it to between 12 and 14 meters.
“This is crucial because currently, many larger vessels are unable to berth at Tema Port due to its limited depth,” adding that when completed, the planned dredging was expected to significantly improve vessel turnaround time by accommodating bigger ships.
The GPHA Director-General stated that the dredging would not only make Tema Port more competitive but also help cut costs for shipping lines and importers.
He said this formed part of broader infrastructural and operational upgrades being pursued by GPHA in line with the government’s 24-hour economy agenda, aimed at modernising the port to handle more and larger vessels, which was critical to sustaining round-the-clock operations.
“When the dredging is complete and we receive larger vessels directly, we will improve the turnaround time of vessels as well as the overall port efficiency,” he added.
Again, GPHA, was putting in measures to attract more business from landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which often rely on coastal ports for imports and exports, he said.
Brigadier Tanye-Kulono said GPHA had invested in operational logistics, including 45 leased pickup trucks and staff buses to ease transportation for port workers to boost the operationalisation of the 24-hour service delivery.
GNA
