President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, November 13, officially commissioned Phases One and Two of the Tema Port Expansion Project, a milestone infrastructure initiative designed to strengthen Ghana‘s position as a regional trade hub.
The new container terminal, built by Meridian Port Services (MPS) in partnership with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Bolloré Transport and Logistics, and APM Terminals, connects Ghana to global shipping routes while enhancing trade efficiency and job creation.
President Mahama, who first broke ground for the project on November 16, 2016, described the expansion as “one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Africa’s maritime sector” and a strategic asset for industrialisation, competitiveness, and global trade leadership.
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He noted that the modernised port improves logistics capacity, shortens turnaround times, and facilitates quicker access to export markets while making imports more affordable.
Highlighting the human impact, the President said thousands of Ghanaians had gained employment during construction and continue to benefit from operations, spanning engineers, technicians, logistics professionals, artisans, and service providers. He added that the expansion would support related industries, including transport, warehousing, hospitality, and maintenance, creating a ripple effect of economic opportunities and skills development.
“This project is more than just a Ghanaian achievement. It is an African statement,” Mahama said, pointing to the African Continental Free Trade Area and the port’s role in intra-African commerce, connecting producers, traders, and consumers across the continent.
The President paid tribute to key figures in the project’s execution, including the late Alhaji Asumah Banda, former MPS Board Chairman, the late Madam Dzifa Ativor, former Transport Minister, and Mrs Joyce Bawa Mogtari, former Deputy Transport Minister and current Presidential Advisor, for their instrumental contributions.
Mr Mohamed Samara, CEO of Meridian Port Services, described the project as a landmark public-private partnership, while Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe commended all partners for delivering a world-class facility set to serve Ghana and the sub-region for decades.
The commissioned of terminal positions at Tema Port as a major hub for West and Central Africa, reinforcing Ghana’s ambition to drive economic growth, trade integration, and industrial development.
