President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed claims that his government spent large sums of money on the expansion of Terminal 3 at the Tema Port and denied allegations that the port was sold under his administration.

Speaking at the opening session of the Ghana Transport and Logistics Fair 2025 on October 22, President Mahama stated categorically that the Government of Ghana did not pay a dime for the newly commissioned port.

He explained that the expansion was necessary due to a surge in maritime traffic, which rendered the old Tema Port inadequate. To address this, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) entered into a strategic partnership with Meridian Port Services (MPS) to construct a new berth.

“They accepted the challenge and decided to build a new port off our balance sheet,” he stated.

President Mahama recounted challenging the MPS partners, including APM Terminals, Bolloré, and MERS, to consider building a new port, as the old facility had reached its expansion limits.

Today, the Tema Port is the most efficient port along the Gulf Coast, with the largest ships and vessels docking on Ghana’s waters.

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“I want to let you know that the new Tema Port cost the Government of Ghana nothing. There’s been a lot of misinformation that I sold the port. How can you sell a port that didn’t exist? GPHA and their partners went to the credit market and borrowed almost a billion dollars to establish the new port we have today. It’s the most efficient port in the whole of West Africa. Actually, I’m not sure, perhaps in the whole Gulf Coast,” President Mahama clarified.

He commended GPHA and Meridian Port Services for their continued investment and the quality of work done in the maritime sector.

The new Tema Port, including Terminal 3, is part of a major expansion project officially launched in November 2023.

The ongoing second phase has significantly boosted the port’s capacity to accommodate larger vessels and increased cargo volumes, positioning Ghana as a leading shipping hub in the region.

SA/MA



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