The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has reaffirmed the Government of Ghana’s unwavering commitment to creating a conducive and competitive business environment to support private sector growth and accelerate national economic development.
The Minister gave the assurance during a high level working visit to the Tema Port on Friday where she assessed first-hand operational bottlenecks affecting cement manufacturers in the country.
She was accompanied by the Minister for Transport, Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, as well as officials from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Ghana Shippers’ Authority, and executives of major cement manufacturing companies operating in Ghana.
The inspection was triggered by persistent concerns raised by cement producers over the berthing of vessels that bring clinker into the country. According to industry players, the lack of a dedicated deep draft berth for clinker vessels at the Tema Port has resulted in long waiting times at anchorage, severe congestion, and huge demurrage costs that ultimately increase their cost of production.
Clinker, the primary raw material for cement production, is imported in large bulk vessels which require deeper berths and specialized handling. Due to limited berthing space, vessels often spend several days waiting to dock, with manufacturers incurring thousands of dollars in demurrage charges daily.
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare said the visit formed part of government’s deliberate strategy to move away from boardroom policy formulation to direct, on-the-ground engagement with industry to identify practical and lasting solutions to challenges affecting business operations.
“This government, under the leadership of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, understands that the private sector is the engine of growth. Our job is not to frustrate businesses, but to clear the path for them to thrive. That is why we are here at the port today to see, to listen, and to act.”
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare
She emphasized that the government recognizes the strategic role of the cement industry in Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda and overall economic stability.
Cement, she noted, is not just a commodity but a critical input for Ghana’s housing, infrastructure, and the ambitious public works programmes being rolled out across the country.
“Without competitive cement, we cannot build affordable houses, we cannot build roads, we cannot build factories. The health of your industry is directly linked to the health of our economy. We will continue to work closely with you to address concerns relating to the offloading of clinker and other raw materials at the port.”
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare
Major Intervention: New Berth to Be Dredged
In a major breakthrough from the inspection tour, the Trade Minister disclosed that the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), through the Ministry of Transport, has agreed to dredge an additional berth at the Tema Port specifically to accommodate larger clinker and bulk cargo vessels.
The intervention, she explained, will significantly reduce delays in the discharge of clinker, improve vessel turnaround time, decongest the port, and ultimately lower the cost of doing business for cement manufacturers.
Hon. Nikpe, on his part, assured that the Ministry of Transport will ensure GPHA expedites the dredging works and improves port efficiency in line with government’s 24-Hour Economy Policy, which seeks to make Ghana’s ports operate at optimum efficiency round-the-clock.
Industry sources have welcomed the news, describing demurrage as one of the biggest hidden costs in their operations. A vessel waiting five to seven days can cost a manufacturer over $150,000 in demurrage, a cost that inevitably affects pricing.
The new berth is expected to allow for simultaneous berthing of more vessels, reduce waiting time to less than 24 hours, and enhance Ghana’s competitiveness as a port of choice in West Africa.
Minister Cautions Against Arbitrary Price Hikes
While assuring government support, Hon. Ofosu-Adjare also charged cement manufacturers to reciprocate government’s goodwill by ensuring stability in cement prices. She urged manufacturers not to increase the price of cement arbitrarily, stressing that affordable cement is critical to protecting consumers, controlling the cost of housing, and sustaining overall economic growth.
The Minister noted that her Ministry will continue to monitor the market to prevent exploitative pricing and ensure that gains from port efficiency interventions are shared with the final consumer.
She added that government is also looking at the entire cement value chain, from limestone exploitation to local production of clinker, to reduce over-reliance on imports in the medium to long term, in line with the National Agribusiness and Industrial Policy.
The Chief Executive Officers of some cement companies who were present commended the Ministers for the proactive engagement, describing the joint visit as a clear signal of a new approach to governance where Ministers listen and act.
The visit to Tema Port is the latest in a series of industry engagements by the Trade Minister since her assumption of office, as part of efforts to restore investor confidence and reposition Ghana as the manufacturing hub of West Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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