The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has rejected claims that congestion at the Tema Port is responsible for the recent increase in cement prices.
According to the authority, the cost of bringing clinker and cement into Ghana is influenced by several operational and commercial factors, and cannot be attributed solely to port congestion.
The clarification follows a statement by the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG), which linked the cement price increases to congestion at the Tema Port.
GPHA, in a statement, explained that berth allocation at the port is influenced by safety and hygiene requirements, particularly the need to keep cement and clinker operations separate from food-related cargo such as rice and wheat.
It added that recent dredging has increased the depth of Berths 13 and 14, allowing cement manufacturers to receive larger vessels and potentially benefit from economies of scale.
The Authority also identified inadequate trucking capacity as a factor that can prolong vessel stays at the port. It said vessels carrying about 40,000 tonnes of clinker can occupy berths for three to four weeks when cargo evacuation is delayed.
GPHA further urged cement manufacturers to adopt modern cargo-handling systems being introduced at the Tema Port to improve discharge rates, reduce vessel turnaround times and ease pressure on berths.
It stressed that cement pricing should be assessed against the broader supply chain, including vessel planning, trucking, cargo handling, port selection and inland transportation, rather than blaming port congestion alone.