A GNA Feature by James Amoh Junior
Accra, March 10, GNA – The first thing that catches the eye at Tema Port is not the size of the ships, but the rhythm of the operation.
Giant ship-to-shore cranes rise above the harbour, lifting containers with remarkable precision as trucks move purposefully through designated lanes, their cargo electronically tracked from entry to exit.
In the control rooms overlooking the terminal, operators monitor every movement on digital dashboards, ensuring that vessels arriving from different corners of the world are loaded and discharged with speed and efficiency.
The Gateway to a New Era
For many Ghanaians, Tema Port has long served as the country’s principal maritime gateway.
Today, however, it is evolving into something much bigger: a strategic logistics hub linking West Africa to global shipping routes and international markets.
Its transformation reflects not only Ghana’s ambition to strengthen its position in global commerce but also the growing importance of infrastructure in shaping the future of international trade.
In an era where supply chains determine economic competitiveness as much as natural resources, ports have become more than places where ships dock.
They are gateways for investment, engines of industrial growth and critical links connecting producers to consumers across continents.
That changing role is evident at Tema Port, whose expansion under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has significantly enhanced Ghana’s maritime capacity while positioning the country as an emerging gateway for regional trade.
As Africa accelerates implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the modernisation of the port offers a glimpse into how strategic infrastructure can support a more connected and competitive continent.
Building a Maritime Gateway
Stretching along Ghana’s Atlantic coastline, Tema Port has undergone one of the most significant transformations in its history.
The expansion project, delivered by Meridian Port Services (MPS) in partnership with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), increased the port’s annual container handling capacity from about 800,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 3.7 million TEUs.
Four new deep-water berths, approximately 1,400 metres of quay wall and a 3,558-metre breakwater have enabled the port to receive some of the world’s largest container vessels while improving operational efficiency.
The expansion forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to strengthen its transport and logistics infrastructure at a time when global trade is becoming increasingly dependent on efficient maritime networks.
With more than 80 per cent of world merchandise trade transported by sea, modern ports have become indispensable to national economic development, influencing everything from export competitiveness to foreign investment and regional integration.
For Mohammed Samara, Chief Executive Officer of Meridian Port Services (MPS), the transformation of Tema Port extends far beyond the expansion of its physical infrastructure.
Speaking to a joint team of journalists from China and Ghana during a media tour of the port, the CEO commended China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for delivering the expansion project on schedule and within budget following a competitive procurement process.
He said the company was selected not only because it offered the best value, but also for its advanced engineering capabilities, innovative design and deployment of state-of-the-art equipment, describing the collaboration as instrumental in enhancing the operational capacity and efficiency of Ghana’s largest seaport.
Mr Samara said the project’s true significance lay in how technology, operational efficiency and innovation have repositioned Tema as one of Africa’s leading maritime gateways.
He believes ports now play a central role in global logistics and that their competitiveness depends not only on capacity but also on technology, operational efficiency and seamless coordination across the supply chain.
Investments in advanced systems and digital innovation, he said, have positioned Tema Port among Africa’s leading container terminals while significantly improving cargo handling and vessel turnaround times.
The expansion has also strengthened Ghana’s ambition to become a preferred maritime gateway for landlocked countries in the sub-region, offering faster cargo movement and improved logistics services that support both domestic commerce and regional trade.
Connecting Continents: Tema Port and the Belt and Road Initiative
When Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, the vision extended beyond financing infrastructure projects.
It sought to improve connectivity among participating countries through policy coordination, infrastructure development, trade facilitation, financial cooperation and stronger people-to-people exchanges.
At its core, the initiative recognises that efficient transport networks and seamless logistics are essential for economic growth and international cooperation.
Over the past decade, the BRI has evolved into one of the world’s largest platforms for infrastructure and development cooperation, with participation spanning Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.
According to China’s official white paper on the initiative, the BRI is anchored on extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, with a focus on strengthening connectivity, facilitating trade and investment, integrating supply chains and creating new drivers of economic growth through high-quality infrastructure and mutually beneficial partnerships.
Providing further insight into the initiative’s economic philosophy, Dr Kai Kuang, a Lecturer at the School of Journalism and Communication at Tsinghua University during a Young Journalists Leadership Seminar in Beijing, said one of the BRI’s defining objectives is to promote “unimpeded trade” by creating conditions that allow commerce to move more efficiently across borders.
She explained that the initiative supports investment, expands market access, improves the business environment, accelerates customs clearance and inspection procedures, and encourages the establishment of free trade zones and exhibition platforms to facilitate information exchange and international business cooperation.
Dr Kuang noted that the BRI has mobilised nearly US$1 trillion in investment, resulting in more than 3,000 cooperation projects, creating approximately 420,000 jobs in participating countries and contributing to lifting nearly 40 million people out of poverty.
Between 2013 and 2022, merchandise trade between China and Belt and Road partner countries reached US$19.1 trillion, recording an average annual growth rate of 6.4 per cent, surpassing both China’s overall foreign trade growth and global trade growth during the same period.
She added that China has also signed 14 Free Trade Agreements with 20 Belt and Road partner countries, further strengthening trade and investment cooperation.
Within that broader framework, the expansion of Tema Port represents more than a national infrastructure project. As one of West Africa’s most modern container terminals, it strengthens Ghana’s role in international shipping while contributing to the maritime connectivity that underpins the Belt and Road Initiative.
By enhancing cargo capacity, improving logistics efficiency and linking regional production centres to global markets, the port demonstrates how strategic infrastructure can support trade, investment and economic integration beyond national borders.
Trade Beyond the Harbour
The significance of Tema Port’s transformation becomes even clearer against the backdrop of the expanding economic relationship between Ghana and China.
China has remained Ghana’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching a record US$14.1 billion in 2025, representing a 19.3 per cent increase over the previous year.
As commercial exchanges continue to grow, efficient transport and logistics infrastructure have become increasingly important in facilitating the movement of goods, reducing shipping costs and connecting businesses to international markets.
Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, said the strong trade performance reflects the resilience and complementary nature of Ghana-China economic relations.
According to him, China remains committed to supporting Ghana’s industrialisation, infrastructure development and regional trade ambitions through practical cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
He noted that the initiative seeks to strengthen connectivity, facilitate trade and promote shared development by creating opportunities for investment, technology transfer and economic cooperation.
While the initiative is often associated with the construction of roads, railways and ports, its wider objective is to improve connectivity in ways that stimulate commerce, strengthen supply chains and create new opportunities for economic growth.
Tema Port illustrates that evolution, demonstrating how infrastructure investment can become a catalyst for trade and regional integration rather than an end in itself.
Powering Africa’s Trade Ambitions
The expansion of Tema Port comes at a pivotal moment for the continent.
With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) gradually taking shape, African countries are looking beyond national markets towards regional value chains capable of supporting industrialisation, boosting intra-African trade and reducing dependence on raw commodity exports.
Efficient transport and logistics infrastructure will be central to achieving those ambitions.
For Ghana, Tema Port is increasingly becoming more than a national asset. Its strategic location along the Gulf of Guinea, combined with modern cargo handling facilities, positions it to serve not only Ghanaian businesses but also neighbouring landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
By facilitating faster cargo movement and reducing transit times, the port has the potential to strengthen Ghana’s role as a logistics and distribution hub for West Africa.
The significance of that role extends beyond the movement of goods.
Manufacturers considering where to establish factories often assess the efficiency of ports before making investment decisions.
Exporters rely on reliable shipping schedules to meet delivery deadlines, while logistics companies seek ports capable of handling larger cargo volumes quickly and efficiently.
A modern port therefore influences much more than maritime trade; it shapes a country’s attractiveness as a destination for investment and industrial production.
This is where the Belt and Road Initiative intersects with AfCFTA.
While the Belt and Road Initiative has focused on improving physical connectivity through ports, roads and transport corridors, AfCFTA seeks to unlock the productive capacity of African economies by creating a single continental market.
Together, they present an opportunity for infrastructure to support manufacturing, regional trade and economic diversification.
As more African products enter regional and international markets, ports such as Tema are expected to play an increasingly important role in connecting African producers to global consumers.
More Than Concrete and Steel
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Tema Port’s transformation is not the scale of its infrastructure but the technology driving its operations.
Behind the cranes and container yards is an integrated digital ecosystem designed to improve efficiency, transparency and security across the port.
Cargo movements are monitored through Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, while Optical Character Recognition (OCR) scanners automatically capture container information.
A Truck Appointment System regulates the arrival of cargo vehicles, reducing congestion within the terminal, and a Berthing Window Scheme enables vessels to arrive according to predetermined schedules, minimising delays and improving turnaround times.
Biometric verification systems further enhance security and streamline access for port users.
These innovations have transformed the way cargo moves through Tema Port.
Instead of relying solely on manual processes, technology now supports faster decision-making, improves cargo visibility and enhances operational planning.
The result is a more efficient port capable of handling increasing trade volumes while maintaining international standards.
Continuous training programmes, Mr Samara said, had enabled Ghanaian professionals to operate most of the advanced technologies deployed at the terminal, reflecting the project’s emphasis on skills development alongside infrastructure.
That combination of infrastructure, technology and skilled personnel reflects a broader evolution in the Belt and Road Initiative, where connectivity is increasingly measured not simply by kilometres of roads or metres of quay walls, but by how efficiently goods, information and people move across borders.
Looking Forward
As global trade continues to evolve, competition among ports is no longer determined solely by geography. Efficiency, technology, connectivity and reliability increasingly define which maritime gateways attract shipping lines, investment and international business.
Tema Port’s transformation illustrates how strategic infrastructure can contribute to national development when combined with innovation, institutional collaboration and a clear vision for trade.
The expanded terminal has strengthened Ghana’s maritime capacity, improved its competitiveness and positioned the country to take advantage of emerging opportunities under both the Belt and Road Initiative and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Challenges remain. Sustaining operational excellence, attracting greater cargo volumes, maintaining world-class infrastructure and ensuring that Ghanaian businesses fully benefit from improved connectivity will require continued investment and sound policy. Infrastructure, after all, creates opportunities, but it does not guarantee economic transformation.
More than a decade after the Belt and Road Initiative was launched, Tema Port demonstrates how the modern Silk Road extends beyond the construction of ports, roads and railways. Its success is increasingly measured by its ability to facilitate trade, attract investment, transfer technology and create opportunities for shared economic growth.
In Ghana, the expanded port has become more than a maritime facility; it is a strategic gateway connecting national development aspirations with regional integration and global commerce.
Every container that leaves Tema today carries more than exports. It carries the promise of a country seeking to strengthen its place in international trade and of a continent pursuing deeper economic integration.
As the Belt and Road Initiative continues to enhance connectivity and AfCFTA works to unlock Africa’s single market, Tema Port stands at the intersection of two ambitious visions: one connecting continents through infrastructure and the other connecting African economies through trade.
Whether that promise translates into sustained industrial growth will ultimately depend on how effectively Ghana leverages improved connectivity to strengthen manufacturing, expand exports, deepen regional value chains and position itself as a competitive gateway for Africa’s engagement with the world.
GNA
Reporter: James Amoh Junior
Email: [email protected]
Edited by:Samuel Osei-Frempong