President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans by a private investor to establish a major ferry service in Tema that will connect Ghana to several West African countries. The initiative, he said, will provide a reliable maritime transport alternative for vehicles, goods, and passengers across the sub-region.
The President made the announcement during the commissioning of Phases 1 and 2 of the $1.5 billion Tema Port Expansion Project on November 14. The project, executed through a public-private partnership involving Meridian Port Services (MPS), the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), APM Terminals, and Africa Global Logistics, has been described as one of the largest and most transformative port infrastructure developments in Sub-Saharan Africa.
President Mahama noted that the new ferry service will significantly improve trade efficiency by reducing the need for long-distance trucking across West Africa, where cargo trucks often face numerous checkpoints and delays.
“You can drive your car onto a ferry and it will sail to Apapa in Nigeria, then you drive off straight into Lagos or wherever you’re going. It can carry trucks, goods, and passengers,” he explained.
“This service will help reduce road transport pressure and bypass the multiple checkpoints where traders pay small, small VAT to different offices.”
Tema Port Expansion: A Landmark Achievement
President Mahama, who conceptualized and launched the expansion project in November 2016 during his first full term, highlighted the success of the public-private partnership model used for the port development. He emphasized that the GPHA continues to benefit immensely from the arrangement, including the full ownership and operation of the original MPS-built terminal at the old port.
He also addressed previous political controversies surrounding the port project, dismissing allegations that he had sold the port.
“I was accused of selling a port that did not exist. This port did not exist. How I could have sold it, I don’t understand,” he said, describing the claims as politically motivated.
New Opportunities for Ghanaian Youth
President Mahama further directed port authorities to prioritize employment opportunities for trained Ghanaian seafarers as the expanded port operations create new jobs.
“In a short while, we will see our young men and women who have trained as seafarers begin operating vessels redistributing containers from Tema to other destinations,” he added.
The proposed ferry service is expected to strengthen regional trade, ease cargo transportation, and enhance Ghana’s position as a logistics hub in West Africa.
