Takoradi Dry Dock Project Secures £101m UK-Backed Investment
A £101 million investment in a ship repair and dry docking facility at Takoradi Port has been announced at the Ghana-UK Investment Summit in London, marking the largest single commitment by the UK-backed Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) in Ghana to date.
The announcement was made on Monday by British High Commissioner to Ghana Christian Rogg, who said the facility is expected to create up to 430 jobs, with women projected to occupy approximately 30 per cent of the positions. The investment represents a significant vote of confidence in Ghana’s maritime sector and its potential to become a regional hub for ship repair and maintenance services on the Gulf of Guinea.
“Today I’m pleased to announce that the UK-backed Private Infrastructure Development Group is making its largest investment to date, a £101 million ship repair and dry docking facility at Takoradi Port,” Mr Rogg told delegates at the summit.
President John Dramani Mahama, who attended the summit, described the project as a catalyst for shifting the geography of industrial development in Ghana. “Since our first president established the industrial town of Tema and the port at Tema, a lot of our investment in terms of industry has gone towards the east,” he said. “It is time to move westwards. And that shipbuilding industry would be a jewel in the West.”
The President’s remarks reflect a broader ambition to spread economic growth beyond the traditional industrial corridor around Tema and Accra. The Western Region, despite its considerable natural resources and strategic coastal location, has historically attracted less industrial investment than other parts of the country. The dry dock project could change that calculus significantly.
Mr Rogg also outlined a suite of complementary initiatives designed to deepen UK-Ghana economic ties. These include the launch of a UK-Ghana Growth Partnership to connect Ghanaian projects with international investors, and a Green Project Preparation Facility being developed in partnership with the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund. That facility alone could unlock up to £180 million in infrastructure transactions over the next three years.
The broader economic relationship between the two countries is already substantial. More than 670 UK foreign direct investment projects have been undertaken in Ghana over the past two decades, creating upwards of 44,000 jobs. The Takoradi dry dock represents the next phase of that relationship, one that both governments say will be measured by the successful implementation of projects rather than diplomatic rhetoric.
The dry dock project has been under development for several years as part of long-standing plans to establish a ship repair hub on the Gulf of Guinea. The latest injection of capital is expected to accelerate construction timelines and position Takoradi as a serious competitor for maritime services in West Africa, a market currently dominated by facilities in Nigeria and Senegal.
When completed, the facility is expected to increase economic activity at Takoradi Port, generate substantial downstream employment, and strengthen Ghana’s ambition to become a leading maritime services centre in the sub-region. For the Western Region, it may be the beginning of a long-overdue industrial renaissance.
The announcement builds on momentum from the Ghana-UK Investment Summit, where President Mahama outlined a broader US$10 billion infrastructure investment agenda spanning roads, railways, and ports.
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