Cargo traffic through Ghana’s ports was a million-ton short of the total volume recorded for same period 2022, despite a generally difficult local and international economic climate, according to figures from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
The Port of Tema handled 18 million tons of cargo while the Port of Takoradi moved 8million tons—the latter having performed significantly better in 2023 than the previous year.
From a dormant half-year, general ports performance improved in the second half due largely to improved economic conditions and concerted actions from the port authority and its partners to shore up productivity.
Director-general of GPHA, Michael Luguje, in his assessment of the ports’ performance on the industry-focused Eye on Port programme, attributed late half improvements to significant investments in infrastructure and logistics.
“GPHA is vigorously pursuing measures that will augment its efficiency at its ports to make Ghana the preferred hub in the sub-region,” he said.
The port authority has already begun processes to develop a maritime single window system mainly to manage vessel traffic and working relationship with other key stakeholders in the clearance chain.
According to the GPHA boss, findings from stakeholder engagements to ascertain the cause of dipping cargo traffic through the country’s ports have been handed to the Economic Management Committee.
Mr. Luguje hoped that implementing the measures that have been prescribed in the report will ameliorate the rising cost of doing business in Ghana’s ports and make them more attractive to traffic.