The government has moved to address persistent delays in clinker imports at the Port of Tema, as the Ministries of Transport and Trade, Industry and Agribusiness engage the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) on measures to improve vessel turnaround and reduce mounting demurrage costs for local cement manufacturers.
Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe and Minister for Trade, Industry and Agribusiness Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare visited GPHA on Friday, September 11, 2026 to assess measures being implemented to ease congestion and ensure a more efficient flow of clinker—the key raw material used by cement manufacturers.
The intervention comes amid concerns that delays in vessel berthing and cargo evacuation could raise operating costs for clinker importers. Those additional costs could, in turn, feed into cement prices and increase cost pressures for businesses and consumers.
Briefing the ministers, GPHA management, led by Director-General Major General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono and Director of the Port of Tema Tebon Zumah, said the Authority had deepened one of the berths at the Bulk Jetty from 10 metres to 14 metres.
The increased depth is expected to allow larger bulk carriers to access the facility, potentially raising the volume of clinker handled per vessel while reducing waiting times caused by berthing restrictions.
GPHA is also preparing to introduce a vessel-window system, under which vessels will be allocated specific berthing times and expected to arrive and berth within their designated windows.
The system is intended to make port operations more predictable, reduce unnecessary vessel queuing and improve the management of available berthing capacity.
Mr. Nikpe said government was concerned about the effect of port delays on businesses and the wider economy, stressing the need for relevant institutions to work together to resolve operational bottlenecks.
He said delays at the port extend beyond shipping companies and importers, with potential implications for industrial production and the cost of goods.
“For cement manufacturers that rely heavily on imported clinker, prolonged vessel delays can translate into additional demurrage and other port-related charges, increasing the cost of bringing the raw material into the country,” he said.
Ms. Ofosu-Adjare assured clinker importers that her ministry would continue working with the Transport Ministry and GPHA to address the cost implications of port delays.
She said a key priority would be reducing demurrage charges incurred by clinker importers while authorities work to restore greater efficiency across the supply chain.
Immediate measures
Major General Tanye-Kulono said the measures were being implemented immediately; and expressed confidence that the deeper berth, combined with improved vessel scheduling, would ease congestion.
He said the additional berth depth would improve access for larger vessels, while the proposed scheduling system would reduce waiting times and improve efficiency in cargo handling.
The measures could have wider implications for the cement industry, where the timely availability of clinker and the cost of importing it are important to production planning and pricing.
The effectiveness of the intervention will ultimately depend on how quickly the new arrangements reduce vessel waiting times, cargo evacuation delays and associated demurrage costs.
“The combination of the deeper berth and improved vessel scheduling will significantly ease congestion,” Major General Tanye-Kulono said.
SOURCE: B&FT
