Trade, Transport Ministries Move to Ease Port Congestion
The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Ghana and the Ministry of Transport Ghana have moved to address mounting congestion at the nation’s ports following urgent appeals from cement manufacturers over rising demurrage costs and operational delays.
Industry executives say vessels carrying clinker, a key raw material in cement production are currently waiting between 13 and 20 days to berth, significantly extending turnaround times and driving up costs. The prolonged delays have resulted in substantial demurrage charges, compounding financial pressures on manufacturers already grappling with high input and logistics costs.
Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, convened an emergency meeting with cement producers to address the bottlenecks. The meeting, held jointly with Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe, focused on operational constraints that have left clinker shipments stranded at the harbour for as long as two to three weeks.
Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers Ghana, Bishop Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, described the situation as critical, warning that the industry is “leaking” financially due to escalating demurrage bills. According to manufacturers, sustained congestion could ultimately translate into higher retail cement prices if inefficiencies are not resolved swiftly.
Although dredging works are currently underway at the port to expand berth capacity, industry players called for interim measures to ease the immediate strain. Among the proposals discussed were temporary access to additional berths and authorisation to handle non-dust producing raw materials such as gypsum and slag at alternative berths to reduce congestion pressure.
Responding to the concerns, Minister Nikpe indicated that government is accelerating dredging activities to accommodate larger vessels and improve overall port efficiency. He explained that existing berths can handle ships of up to 8,000 tonnes, a limitation that contributes to congestion and extended waiting periods.
Upon completion of the dredging project by the end of June, the port is expected to receive vessels exceeding 20,000 tonnes. This expansion is projected to significantly reduce vessel traffic and waiting times. Portions of the dredging works, particularly around Berth 14, are anticipated to be completed within one to two weeks, offering partial relief ahead of full completion.
Ofosu-Adjare emphasised that the intervention is aimed not only at preventing price increases but also at addressing structural inefficiencies affecting industrial productivity. She noted that even a single day of delay can translate into millions of dollars in losses, underscoring the urgency of coordinated action involving the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and private terminal operators.
President of the Association of Ghana Industries, Pharm. Kofi Nsiah-Poku, welcomed the swift engagement and expressed optimism that interim measures, alongside full dredging completion by mid-year, will restore operational efficiency, lower production costs and help stabilise cement prices.
Stakeholders concluded the meeting with a renewed commitment to safeguard the competitiveness of Ghana’s cement sector, prevent supply disruptions and ensure pricing stability in the domestic market as congestion pressures begin to ease.
