Port inefficiencies stifling competitiveness – Chamber of Shipping

Persistent congestion, high costs and operational inefficiencies at Ghana’s seaports are undermining trade and investment and weakening the country’s competitiveness, according to Jemilat Mahamah, Vice President of the Ghana Chamber of Shipping.

Addressing the Maritime Transport Stakeholders Forum in Tema, she said that unless transparency and efficiency are made central to port reforms, Ghana risks losing ground in regional and global trade.

“Our maritime sector stands as a gateway to regional trade and a cornerstone of our national economy. Yet, the challenges surrounding port congestion, operational inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and high costs have hindered the full realisation of our maritime potential,” she noted.

The forum, convened under the theme ‘Streamlining Ghana’s Maritime Transport and Logistics Sector for Transparency, Efficiency and Competitiveness’,  brought together officials from the transport ministry, private operators, regulators, and civil society to examine reforms aimed at strengthening port performance.

Mrs. Mahamah stressed that the economic toll of inefficiencies extended beyond Ghana’s borders. Tema and Takoradi ports handle the vast majority of the country’s seaborne trade, with Tema alone processing about 80 percent of all imports and exports. Both ports also serve as gateways for landlocked neighbours including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, making their performance critical to regional supply chains.

“These issues not only stifle trade and investment but also diminish Ghana’s standing in the African Continental Free Trade Area and the global marketplace,” she said.

Transparency

She identified transparency as a critical tool for reversing the trend, arguing that openness in port operations would enhance regulatory compliance, reduce costs, and encourage innovation.

“The nexus between transparency and shipping efficiency is one of a positive correlation,” she told attendees.

“Together, these effects reduce costs, improve sustainability, and increase customer satisfaction, fundamentally transforming shipping performance,” she added.

Discussions at the forum centred on port modernisation, the deployment of digital tools such as the Port Community System, and policy frameworks intended to improve accountability. Industry leaders were expected to share experiences and propose strategies for tackling the high costs and delays that continue to burden shippers and businesses.

Mrs.  Mahamah urged stakeholders to take a proactive role in shaping reforms, warning that the nation’s maritime transport system could not sustain inefficiencies if it was to compete effectively.

“Your insights, experiences, and commitments are vital to shaping a maritime landscape that not only serves the economy efficiently but also attracts sustainable investment and unleashes new economic opportunities for Ghanaians,” she said.

She further called for collective resolve to reposition Ghana’s ports as efficient and competitive trade gateways capable of delivering long-term economic benefits.

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