Takoradi Port has demonstrated significant growth in both cargo handling and cruise ship traffic, marked by the arrival of a transit vessel carrying around 50,000 metric tonnes of bagged rice—the first such shipment in over a decade.
The port efficiently discharged this large shipment within a reasonable time frame, showcasing its capacity to manage high-volume transit cargo with accuracy and speed.
By November 2024, the port experienced a 33.28% increase in total cargo volume, rising from 7.1 million metric tonnes in November 2023 to 9.4 million metric tonnes.
Cruise ship visits also saw remarkable growth, with the number of cruise vessel calls doubling from seven in November 2023 to 14 in November 2024.
Peter Amo-Bediako, the Director of Takoradi Port, emphasized during a media event that these achievements reflect the port’s commitment to operational excellence and customer satisfaction, alongside the positive public relations generated through media coverage.
As of November 2024, imported cargo at the port totaled 2,877,273 metric tonnes, showing an 11.03% increase from 2,591,340 metric tonnes in the previous year.
Imports of clinker and gypsum represented more than 70% of the total import volume, with 2,072,490 metric tonnes recorded in November 2024, compared to 1,757,883 metric tonnes in the same period of 2023.
Export cargo also saw strong growth, reaching 6,472,998 metric tonnes in November 2024, up by 44% from 4,500,570 metric tonnes during the same period in 2023.
“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.
The Port Director noted that by the end of November 2024, transit cargo at the port had surged to 51,086 metric tonnes, a stark rise from the 2,247 metric tonnes registered in the same period the previous 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”
However, Mr. Amo-Bediako highlighted a decline in Container TEU traffic this year, with a total of 28,257 TEUs recorded by the end of November.
This marks an 11 percent drop compared to the 31,763 TEUs observed during the same period last year.
Mr. Amo-Bediako shared that the YILPORT-ATSL container and multipurpose terminal began its full commercial operations in September, marking a key milestone with the arrival of the first container vessel. This event signals a new phase of enhanced container handling services at Takoradi Port.
He also highlighted the official opening of the port’s oil and gas services terminal in November, reinforcing Takoradi Port’s critical role in supporting the oil and gas exploration and production sectors in Ghana and West Africa.
Looking forward, the Director stated that the port will continue to focus on future growth, with plans to launch commercial operations at the Oil and Gas Service terminal to cater to industry needs.
Furthermore, he mentioned the upcoming Prime Meridian DOCK (PMD) floating dock project, which will elevate the port’s capabilities in ship repairs and maintenance, particularly for offshore supply vessels, solidifying Takoradi Port as a leader in this field.
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 mentioned that in 2025, the port, in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority, intends to establish a cruise ship and passenger terminal through a public-private partnership.
“This initiative is consistent with our strategic vision to enhance tourism and maritime connectivity within Ghana,” he added.
The Director expressed confidence that the port would manage a cargo volume of 9.8 million tonnes in 2025, nearing the pre-COVID volume of over 10 million metric tonnes.
He also highlighted the successful launch of the port’s state-of-the-art medical diagnostic centre in April 2024, which now provides top-notch healthcare services to both port workers and the broader community.
Future plans include the introduction of a 24-hour pharmacy and the acquisition of an MRI machine to improve healthcare provision for staff and patients across the Western, Central, and Western North regions.
“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,” he added.
