GPHA Refutes Claims Linking Cement Price Hikes to Port Congestion

The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has rejected claims by the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG) that congestion at the Port of Tema is responsible for recent increases in cement prices.

In a statement issued on Thursday, GPHA said congestion alone cannot justify price hikes, stressing that several operational and commercial factors determine the cost of importing clinker and cement.

 “The Authority’s responsibility is to ensure safe and hygienic port operations, particularly the separation of food-related cargo such as rice and wheat from cement and clinker handling,” it stated.

GPHA explained that dredging works at the bulk cargo section of the port were undertaken in anticipation of larger vessels and growing cargo volumes. Cement companies were informed in advance to plan vessel arrivals and berthing schedules.

“The industry is a direct beneficiary of the project, with Berth 13 now offering depths of up to 14 metres and Berth 14 up to 12 metres, enabling larger vessels and potential economies of scale,” the statement read.

The Port Authority further clarified that Terminals 1 and 2 are multipurpose facilities handling food, steel and general cargo, making it unsuitable to mix cement operations with food products. Instead, Berths 3, 13 and 14 have been designated as common-user berths for cement and clinker, shared among multiple companies.

GPHA also pointed out that cement cargo is handled at the Port of Takoradi, providing manufacturers with additional options within Ghana’s maritime network.

On evacuation challenges, GPHA noted that vessels carrying about 40,000 tonnes of clinker often rely on limited trucking capacity to transport cargo to factories.

It added that delays in trucking and traffic congestion slow discharge operations, resulting in vessels occupying berths for seven to ten days, which in turn affects berth availability for other ships.”

The Authority announced plans to modernise cement and clinker handling at Tema, moving away from traditional grabs and hoppers towards more efficient systems. GPHA urged cement companies to embrace new technology to improve discharge rates, reduce vessel turnaround times and optimise berth utilisation.

“Port efficiency is a shared responsibility,” GPHA stated, calling on cement manufacturers to improve vessel planning, trucking capacity, discharge efficiency and adoption of modern handling systems. It encouraged stakeholders to consider the entire logistics chain, including port choice, inland transport and factory location rather than attributing cement price increases solely to congestion.

GPHA reaffirmed its commitment to working with the cement industry and other stakeholders to enhance berth utilisation, cargo evacuation and overall port efficiency.

Margaret Adjeley Sowah, ISD