The Director General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Brigadier General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, has revealed that the Port Authority will soon commence extensive dredging works at the Port of Tema, a key move aimed at increasing the depth of the harbour and enhancing its capacity to receive larger vessels.
Speaking in an interview, he said arrangements for the dredging exercise are at an advanced stage, with actual works expected to begin by the end of next month.
“At the moment, the depth is about 8 meters. We intend to dredge it to between 12 and 14 meters,” the Director-General revealed. “This is crucial because currently, many larger vessels are unable to berth at Tema Port due to its limited depth.”
He stated that the planned dredging, once completed, is expected to significantly improve vessel turnaround time by accommodating bigger ships.
“This will not only make Tema Port more competitive but also help cut costs for shipping lines and importers alike,” he noted.
The dredging, he noted, forms part of broader infrastructural and operational upgrades being pursued by GPHA in line with the government’s 24-hour economy agenda.
He said modernising the Port to handle more and larger vessels is critical to sustaining round-the-clock operations.
“When the dredging is complete and we receive larger vessels directly, we improve the turnaround time of vessels as well as the overall port efficiency,” the Director-General emphasised.
He said GPHA is putting in measures intended to attract more business from landlocked countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, who often rely on coastal ports for imports and exports.
He stated that to operationalise the 24-hour economy, GPHA has invested in operational logistics, including 45 leased pickup trucks and staff buses to ease transportation for port workers.
He further stated that his outfit is collaborating with other stakeholders to ensure round-the-clock presence at the ports.
“One of our main challenges is the absence of some stakeholders at night. We are engaging with them to ensure their continuous presence, especially during the night operations,” the Director-General stated.
Brigadier General Tanye-Kulono reiterated his commitment to discipline, fairness, and efficiency, assuring stakeholders and staff that GPHA is poised to become more customer-friendly and responsive.
