By Justina Paaga
Takoradi, Dec. 24, GNA – Takoradi Port has made remarkable growth in total cargo volume and cruise ship calls, by receiving a transit vessel laden with approximately 50,000 metric tonnes of bagged rice, the first such occurrence in over a decade.
Under the year under review made the cargo discharged was efficiently within an acceptable turnaround time, demonstrating the port’s capacity to handle high-volume transit cargo with precision and expedience.
As of November, this year the port recorded an impressive 33.28 percent growth in cargo volume rising from 7.1 million metric tonnes in November 2023 to 9.4 million metric tonnes.
In addition, cruise ship calls recorded a 100 per cent growth in calls, increasing from seven cruise vessel calls at the end of November 2023 to 14 cruise vessels calls at the end of November this year.
Mr Peter Amo-Bediako Director of the Takoradi Port at a media soiree, indicated that the achievements reflected the port’s unwavering commitment to operational excellence and customer satisfaction as well as the positive brand image generated by the professional coverage by the media.
According to him, imported cargo volume as of November 2024 was 2,877,273 metric tonnes as compared to 2,591,340 metric tonnes recorded for the same period in 2023, representing a growth rate of 11,03 percent.
He said more than 70 percent of the import volume was driven by clinker ang gypsum imports with a combined total volume of 2,072,490 metric tonnes as of November 2024 compared to 1,757,883 metric tonnes recorded in the same period last year.
Mr Amo-Bediako said exported cargo volume as of November 2024 was 6,472,998 metric tonnes as against 4,500,570 metric tonnes recorded for the same period in 2023, representing a growth rate of 44 percent.
“This was by manganese with 4,693,983 metric tonnes and Bauxite with 1,446,934 metric tonnes as at the end of November 2024 compared to 2,981,365 and 1,083,104 metric tonnes respectively of the two commodities, recorded in the same period last year.
Touching on transit cargo volumes, the Port Director indicated that, as of the end of November 2024 the transit cargo volume reached 51,086 metric tonnes in stark contrast to 2,247 metric tonnes recorded in the same period last year.
“This achievement reflects a remarkable growth rate of 2,173.72 percent in our transit trade cargo volume, we remain optimistic that this substantial upward trend in transit cargo will persist in the forthcoming years and decades”
Mr Amo-Bediako however, said Container TEU traffic declined this year, with a total traffic recorded at 28,257 TEUs by the end of November a decrease from the 31,763 TEU noted the same period last year, representing an 11 percent reduction.
“Similarly, vessel calls declined this year, totaling 695 by the end of November, as against 801 recorded last year representing a decrease of 13.23 percent”, he added.
He announced that the YILPORT-ATSL container and multipurpose terminal commenced full commercial operation in September this year and that the arrival of the first container vessel marked a significant milestone, heralding a new era of improved container handling services at the Takoradi port.
He said in November this year the Port officially inaugurated the oil and gas services terminal which positions the Takoradi port as a significant contributor to supporting upstream oil and gas exploration and production operations in Ghana and West Africa.
On the way forward for the port, the Director said the port would continue to prioritise its focus on the future and would initiate commercial operations at the Oil and Gas Service terminal, catering to the industry’s needs.
He said the Port also anticipated the commencement of the Prime Meridian DOCK (PMD) floating Dock project, which was poised to establish the port as a leading facility to ship repairs and maintenance, including those for offshore supply vessels.
On the Genser Energy Cryonic Tank Farm Facility, he said “We expect to commerce operations at this facility in 2025, this will support gas export, further diversify our portfolio of service and strengthen the ports contributions to Ghana’s energy export strategy”
He hinted that in 2025 the port in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority would develop a cruise ship or passage terminal through a public partnership arrangement, “this initiative is consistent with our strategic vision to enhance tourism and maritime connectivity within Ghana”.
The Director was hopeful that in 2025 the port would manage an increased cargo volume of 9.8 million tonnes, which is slightly below the pre-COVID cargo volume of over 10 million metric tonnes.
He announced that the port’s state of the art medical diagnostic centre commenced operations in April 2024 this year, adding that the facility now delivers exceptional health care services to the port community and the wider population, “we look forward to implementing a 24-hour pharmacy and procuring and MRI machine to facilitate effective service delivery to staff and patients in the Western, Central and western north regions.
GNA