Gov't To Acquire Two Cranes In Emergency Move To Decongest Ghana's Ports – Transport Minister

Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, says government is taking emergency measures to decongest Ghana's ports, including the acquisition of two new cranes.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Nikpe said he visited the port on Friday and held fruitful engagements with port officials to take decisive decisions on decongestion.

He explained that congestion is being caused by long-standing structural issues. Ghana imports far more than it exports, and there is also a large volume of transit cargo. This year, there has been a high volume of container imports that far outweighs exports, leaving shipping lines with little to take back.

According to him, shipping lines have taken up a large chunk of terminal space at Terminal 3 and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority enclave because they leave empty containers behind while waiting for transit cargo to other destinations like Abidjan.

To address the situation, the Minister said government is working on several fronts:

First, he has engaged the Railway Development Authority to evacuate some containers to its terminal with enough space to help create room at the port.

Second, government has called on shipping lines to clear containers belonging to them that have stayed over six months. The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been instructed to confiscate such containers, gazette and auction them.

Third, and crucially, he has instructed GPHA to undertake an emergency acquisition of two cranes.

"There is going to be an emergency acquisition of two cranes to help decongest the port... that will augment already what they have on the ground that will facilitate the load and offload of cargo," Mr. Nikpe said.

He said the cranes will speed up loading and offloading so that ships do not stay longer and incur demurrage, and will help fast-track the decongestion exercise.