Ghana will need a third port to accommodate the expected future growth in maritime traffic, Kumi Adjei-Sam, Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), has disclosed.

He said aside numerous expansion projects ongoing at the Tema and Takoradi ports, plans are also being drawn for the construction of an additional port.

In an interview with B&FT, Mr. Adjei-Sam said the need to build a third port for the country stems from a positive projection based on the industry’s continued year-on-year traffic growth, strong economic outlook as well as consistent increase in cargo throughput over the years.

Although he did not mention the site for the new port, Mr. Adjei-Sam said: “We are currently identifying the ideal place to situate the port. Despite current expansion works at the ports, we still envisage the need for another port due largely to the country’s buoyant economic condition, favourable business environment and political stability.

“Last year for instance, we received several requests from some larger vessels to berth at our ports but only a few had access, which even led to heavy congestion at the ports. The country’s current economic dispensation is attracting investors so there is the need to strategise in order to handle the situation.”

Last year, cargo throughput increased by 10 percent, rising from 18 million tonnes in 2011 to 19.7 million tonnes. “Traffic volume growth was historic because the ports have never experienced anything like that before, and the general performance was impressive,” he said, attributing the success to efficient and feasible measures put in place by management, as well as significant contributions from various industry players.

Mr. Adjei-Sam said GPHA will continue to expand the two ports—Tema and Takoradi—to contain the annual increments in traffic volumes.

The expansion works, he said, will go on vigorously alongside the day-to-day activities at the ports – which he assured will not affect the arrival of cargo.

“Works at the ports will not interfere in the business activities in any way because everything has been well planned and thought of. Both Tema and Takoradi ports will handle the same volume of traffic while expansion works go on,” he said.

He said the ports terrain this year will be challenging and dynamic with a projected revenue increase of 30 percent over last year’s figure of GH¢300 million.