The Port of Tema is making strides in realising its hub port ambitions, says CEO of Meridien Port Services (MPS), Mohammed Samara.
This after the Lady CMA CGM berthed at the port carrying 9 161 TEUs bound for West Africa, with 4 939 TEUs destined for discharge in Tema. Among these, 1 938 TEUs of transhipment cargo were reloaded onto feeder vessels for their final destination in other ports in the region.
The port has recently marked several “firsts”, with the 366-metre-long, 13 676-TEU Maersk Edirne calling at Tema, followed by the CMA CGM Scandola, which is designated for the newly introduced West Africa Express Service (WAX), where Tema is the first port of call.
The 366-metre, 15 128-TEU vessel, sailing under the flag of Malta, is also the first LNG-powered vessel to call the Port of Tema.
Samara is optimistic that the port will achieve its hub port goal, which will give a shot in the arm to Ghana's goal of becoming an ideal destination for investments.
“The West Africa market is huge. We have about 300-400 million people; Nigeria alone has 220 million — consumers and producers included. If we are able to tap into this kind of global economy through Ghana becoming a hub not only for trade but also for industry, it will be great. This is the dream for Ghana and AfCFTA, to create interconnectivity within the region and the wider continent in the long run,” he said.
The Director of Port, Tema, Sandra Opoku, said the Port Authority recognised the efforts shipping lines were making to augment maritime trade in the region, and her outfit would do its best to complement such efforts.
