The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has announced new measures to reduce landside congestion at the Port of Tema as growing import volumes and heavy road traffic continue to slow cargo movement.

In a statement, the Authority said the congestion is partly due to a sharp increase in imports, rising exports of empty containers, and road traffic around the port. It noted that similar challenges are being experienced at several ports across West Africa.

To improve the situation, GPHA said it has placed all relevant stakeholders on heightened operational alert and is working closely with shipping lines and terminal operators to speed up cargo movement.

The Authority said the measures include increasing vessel calls to evacuate empty containers, deploying more trucks for container transfers, improving container handling operations, and strengthening yard and traffic management to maximise available terminal space.

GPHA also appealed to importers, clearing agents and cargo owners to clear their consignments as quickly as possible to create more space at the port and improve operational efficiency.

According to the Authority, the timely evacuation of cargo will help ease congestion, improve the flow of goods and support international trade.

GPHA assured stakeholders that it is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to introduce additional measures until normal operations are restored.

The Authority thanked the trading community and the public for their patience and cooperation, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining a safe, efficient and competitive port system that supports Ghana’s economic growth.

Ghana|Atinkaonline.com