Tema Port is one of the most important gateways for Ghana’s economy. Every day, ships bring containers, machinery, fuel-related products, raw materials and other goods into the country through the port.
But when cargo stops moving smoothly, the effects are felt far beyond the port.
Importers can face extra charges. Clearing agents have to deal with delays. Trucks spend more time waiting. Businesses may struggle to receive goods on schedule. In the end, some of these costs can reach consumers.
Recent concerns over congestion at the Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal at Tema have again raised questions about why Ghana’s busiest port continues to experience bottlenecks despite years of investment and modernisation.
So, what is causing the problem?
Why Is Tema Port Congested?
Port congestion does not usually have one single cause.
At Tema, recent reports point to a combination of cargo clearance delays, scanning problems, container evacuation delays, road congestion and wider logistical bottlenecks. These problems can build on each other.
When one part of the system slows down, cargo begins to remain at the terminal for longer. As more containers stay inside the port, available space becomes tighter. That can then make it harder to move new cargo through the system. It creates a cycle.
Scanning Problems Are Holding Up Cargo
One of the most important recent concerns involves scanning and cargo examination at the MPS Terminal.
In June 2026, industry stakeholders raised concerns that some vehicles and containers selected for examination were unable to proceed because the required scan images were unavailable.
The problem was linked to recurring operational and system difficulties.
When the scanning process does not work properly, containers that need examination cannot move smoothly through the clearance process.
That creates a bottleneck.
Citi Business News reported that the situation had contributed to a buildup of cargo at the terminal and longer waiting times for importers, freight forwarders and clearing agents.
Containers Are Also Taking Too Long to Leave the Terminal
Another major problem is what happens after containers arrive at the terminal.
In July, shippers complained about delays in moving containers from MPS Terminal 3 to Inland Container Depots.
According to the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, some containers designated for inland depots remained at Terminal 3 for weeks before being transferred.
That delay matters because containers sitting at the port continue to occupy valuable space.
It can also create additional costs for importers.
The Ghana Shippers’ Authority said delays in moving containers were resulting in rent, demurrage and other time-related charges for importers.
What Is Demurrage?
Demurrage is one of the biggest concerns for importers when cargo clearance takes too long.
In simple terms, it is a charge that can arise when containers remain at a terminal beyond the allowed free period. For an importer, a delay that lasts several days can therefore become expensive.
Imagine a business importing goods for sale. The company has already paid for the goods, shipping and other expenses. If the goods remain stuck at the port, the business may continue paying additional charges while it waits.
That can reduce profits. In some cases, businesses may eventually increase the prices of their products to recover some of the additional costs.
Port Congestion Can Affect Ordinary Consumers
The problem may appear to be limited to importers and shipping companies.
It is not. Ghana relies heavily on imported goods and raw materials. When importing becomes more expensive, businesses may face higher operating costs.
Those costs can eventually affect the prices consumers pay. For example, an importer bringing machinery or raw materials into Ghana may have to pay additional storage or demurrage charges because of delays.
If those costs are significant, they can become part of the overall cost of doing business.
This is one reason the Ghana Shippers’ Authority has described port congestion and related bottlenecks as issues that increase the cost of doing business and affect Ghana’s competitiveness as a regional trade and transit hub.
It Is Not Only a Port Problem
One important point is that congestion at Tema cannot always be solved by simply adding more space inside the port. Cargo eventually has to leave the port.
That requires trucks, roads, inland container depots, customs processing and other parts of the logistics chain to work together.
If containers are cleared but trucks cannot move them quickly enough, congestion can simply shift from one part of the system to another. Tema itself also faces traffic challenges.
Ghana’s 2026 Tema Municipal budget identifies indiscriminate parking of haulage trucks and traffic congestion on important roads among the challenges affecting the metropolis.
The Road Network Matters
The road connecting the port to the rest of Ghana is critical. A container sitting at the port is not useful to an importer until it reaches its final destination.
If trucks spend hours in traffic, make slow trips or struggle with poor road conditions, the entire supply chain becomes less efficient.
A recent engineering assessment also noted that sections of the road network around the Tema Port corridor have experienced deterioration and ongoing reconstruction, contributing to congestion and higher transportation costs.
This means Ghana’s port efficiency depends partly on what happens outside the port gates.
Ghana Has Already Invested Heavily in Tema Port
The congestion problem is particularly interesting because Ghana has made major investments in the port.
The government says the first two phases of the $1.5 billion Tema Port Expansion Project have been commissioned.
The country has also rolled out 24-hour port operations as part of its wider 24-Hour Economy programme.
The expansion has significantly increased the port’s infrastructure and capacity.
But increased capacity does not automatically eliminate congestion.
If customs procedures, scanning systems, inland transport and container evacuation do not operate at the same speed, bottlenecks can still occur.
Dredging Is Another Part of the Solution
Ghana is also working to improve the ability of Tema Port to receive larger vessels.
The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority has been carrying out dredging work at several berths.
According to GPHA, Berths 12 and 13 are being dredged to about 14 metres, while Berths 14 and 15 are being developed to greater depths as well.
The work is expected to allow larger vessels to call directly at Tema and reduce delays associated with vessels having to offload part of their cargo elsewhere before proceeding to the port.
This is important for industries that depend on large shipments of raw materials.
For example, cement manufacturers have faced delays connected to clinker imports.
Larger vessels can carry more cargo in a single trip, which could reduce the number of vessels needed to transport the same volume of goods.
Bigger Ships Can Also Reduce Pressure
If one large vessel can carry the equivalent of several smaller shipments, the number of vessel calls needed for a given amount of cargo can fall.
That can improve efficiency. The government has linked the dredging programme to reducing vessel congestion and operational costs for companies importing clinker and other materials.
But again, the benefits depend on the entire supply chain. A ship may enter the port quickly, but the cargo still has to be discharged, inspected, cleared and transported away.
Multiple Inspections Add More Pressure
Another concern raised by shippers is the number of inspections and regulatory procedures involved in clearing goods.
The Ghana Shippers’ Authority said stakeholders have raised concerns about multiple inspections, regulatory procedures, bureaucratic bottlenecks, documentation fraud, corruption and informal charges.
These problems can make cargo clearance slower and more expensive. The issue is therefore not simply about physical space.
It is also about how quickly information, documents and approvals move between the different institutions involved in the clearance process.
Why Technology Matters
Modern ports depend heavily on technology. Scanning systems, customs platforms, terminal management systems and digital documentation are supposed to make cargo movement faster.
But when one important system fails, the effect can spread quickly. The recent scanning difficulties at the MPS Terminal demonstrate this problem.
If a container cannot obtain the required scan image, it may not move to the next stage. That means a technology problem can eventually become a physical congestion problem.
Tema’s Congestion Is a Supply Chain Problem
The bigger lesson from the current situation is that port congestion should not be viewed as a problem belonging to one company or institution.
It involves the entire supply chain.
That includes:
Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority
Meridian Port Services
Ghana Revenue Authority Customs Division
Ghana Shippers’ Authority
Shipping lines
Freight forwarders
Clearing agents
Truck operators
Inland Container Depots
Importers and exporters
Road and transport authorities
When these parts work together, cargo can move faster. When one or more parts slow down, delays can build quickly.
What Is Being Done About the Problem?
There are several efforts under way. The Ghana Shippers’ Authority has been bringing together government agencies and private-sector operators to address concerns raised by importers and exporters.
In June, stakeholders agreed to work on problems contributing to the high cost of doing business at Ghana’s ports.
GPHA has also said it is continuing investments to modernise Tema and Takoradi ports.
The government is working on dredging projects at Tema, while 24-hour operations and other modernisation programmes are also being pursued.
There is also an effort to improve vessel turnaround times through the Just-In-Time Sailing project.
The Ghana Maritime Authority says the project is intended to reduce vessel waiting and improve port efficiency while also reducing maritime emissions.
Is Tema Port Always Congested?
Not necessarily. Port congestion can change depending on cargo volumes, vessel arrivals, weather, terminal operations, equipment availability and how quickly cargo is cleared and evacuated.
Recent port data from late July showed Tema with a medium congestion level, with a median vessel waiting time of about 2.41 days during the reported week.
This is important because congestion is not always a permanent state. The port can operate efficiently during some periods and experience serious bottlenecks during others.
The Real Question Is How Fast Cargo Moves The success of a port should not be measured only by how many containers it can handle.
The speed at which cargo moves through the entire system is equally important. A port can have modern cranes, larger berths and more container capacity, but if cargo remains inside the terminal for too long, businesses will still face problems.
That is why container evacuation, customs processing, scanning, road transport and inland depots are so important.
What Happens Next?
Tema Port is too important to Ghana’s economy for prolonged congestion to become normal. The country has invested heavily in expanding and modernising the port.
The next challenge is making sure that the different parts of the logistics chain operate at the same pace.
Fixing the scanning problems would help. Moving containers to inland depots faster would help. Improving roads and truck management would help.
Reducing unnecessary bureaucratic delays would help. Making better use of technology would also help. But the biggest requirement is coordination.
Conclusion
Tema Port remains one of Ghana’s most important economic gateways, but recent congestion shows that expanding port infrastructure alone is not enough.
The current problems involve several connected issues, including scanning difficulties, delays in moving containers to inland depots, customs and regulatory bottlenecks, road congestion and the costs created by cargo remaining at the port for too long.
The government and port authorities have already invested in expansion, dredging, 24-hour operations and other modernisation projects.
The challenge now is to make sure those investments translate into faster cargo movement.
For importers and consumers, that matters because every unnecessary day at the port can add to the cost of doing business.
