Deputy Transport Minister Hails MPS Investment at Tema Port as Model for West Africa
The Deputy Minister for Transport, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, has praised the scale and sophistication of investment by Meridian Port Services (MPS) at Tema Port, describing the container terminal as one of the most modern and well-equipped facilities in West Africa.
Ms Affo-Toffey, who also serves as Member of Parliament for Jomoro, made the remarks during a working visit to the MPS facility, where she toured the terminal and met with management to gain first-hand insight into operations, technological upgrades and future expansion plans.
The visit formed part of the Ministry of Transport’s broader engagement with key industry stakeholders, aimed at identifying opportunities for collaboration in support of President John Dramani Mahama’s “Resetting Ghana” agenda and the country’s ambition to become a competitive logistics and maritime hub.
A Port Built for the Future
The Deputy Minister’s tour included a striking highlight: an ascent to the top of one of the terminal’s state-of-the-art ship-to-shore cranes, which rises approximately 125 metres above ground level. From that vantage point, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, she witnessed the scale of container operations first-hand.
“I am personally impressed with the level of investment that has gone into this facility. The technology, infrastructure, and modern equipment deployed here are truly remarkable. They demonstrate the commitment of MPS to ensuring efficiency and excellence in port operations,” she said.
Ms Affo-Toffey noted that the investments at the container terminal have positioned Tema Port as a leading maritime gateway in the sub-region, capable of handling increasing volumes of cargo and supporting international trade. The port’s development is closely tied to Ghana’s broader trade ambitions, which saw the country’s non-traditional exports surpass $5 billion for the first time in a historic milestone earlier this year.
“Looking across West Africa, Tema Port is undoubtedly one of the best-equipped ports in the sub-region. The investments made here are helping to improve trade facilitation and strengthen Ghana’s position as a preferred destination for shipping and logistics,” she added.
Land for Expansion a Priority
During the engagement, MPS management appealed to the Ministry of Transport to help protect and secure available land around the port enclave for future development projects aimed at addressing congestion and improving operational efficiency.
Ms Affo-Toffey acknowledged the importance of preserving strategic land for infrastructure expansion, noting that additional space would help ease challenges related to parking and traffic congestion while creating room for future facilities to streamline port activities.
“What they are proposing is very important because it will help decongest the port, particularly in relation to parking and the movement of cargo. Having visited and engaged with them, I now have a better appreciation of the need,” she said.
The Deputy Minister assured MPS management that she would brief Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe and submit a formal report on the concerns raised during the visit. She stressed the importance of collaboration between government and private-sector operators in driving infrastructure development and strengthening Ghana’s transport and logistics sector.
A Strategic Asset for National Development
Efficient port infrastructure remains central to Ghana’s economic competitiveness within the West African trade corridor. Tema Port’s ongoing modernisation, driven largely by private investment from MPS, underscores the critical role that public-private partnerships play in building the infrastructure needed to support trade-led growth.
As the government deepens its engagement with the private sector under the “Resetting Ghana” framework, the MPS facility stands as a tangible example of what sustained investment and strategic planning can deliver for the nation’s logistics capacity and its position in regional commerce.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
