The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has moved swiftly to confront worsening congestion at Ghana’s ports, holding high-level discussions with cement manufacturers and port authorities after prolonged delays left vital clinker shipments stranded and companies counting mounting losses.

The emergency talks, held on February 23, 2026, were convened jointly with the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, amid growing alarm over operational bottlenecks that have stalled the discharge of clinker — a key input in cement production — for periods stretching from two to three weeks.

Industry representatives disclosed that vessels carrying clinker are currently queuing for 13 to 20 days before berthing, a situation that has triggered steep demurrage charges.

They cautioned that if the logjam continues, manufacturers may have little choice but to pass the added costs on to consumers through higher cement prices.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers Ghana, George Dawson-Ahmoah, painted a bleak picture of the sector’s finances, warning that the industry is “bleeding” under the weight of escalating demurrage fees.

While acknowledging that dredging works are underway at the port, cement producers appealed for short-term relief to cushion the impact.

Among their proposals were temporary access to additional berths and approval to offload non-dust-producing materials such as gypsum and slag at alternative berths to ease pressure on existing facilities.

In response, the Transport Minister assured stakeholders that dredging activities are being fast-tracked to expand berth capacity and improve turnaround times.

He explained that current berths cannot accommodate larger vessels, forcing ships to wait offshore and compounding congestion.

Once the project is completed — expected by the end of June — the port will be able to receive vessels exceeding 20,000 tonnes, a major upgrade from the current 8,000-tonne limit.

He added that some sections of the dredging, particularly around Berth 14, should be completed within the next one to two weeks, offering partial relief ahead of the full project delivery.

For her part, Mrs Ofosu-Adjare emphasized that government intervention goes beyond preventing price hikes, stressing the need to fix systemic inefficiencies that undermine industrial productivity.

“If we truly want competitive prices, then we must also ensure that production conditions are efficient,” she said, noting that even a single day of delay can translate into millions of dollars in losses for affected businesses.

She expressed optimism that noticeable improvements would emerge within two weeks and pledged continued collaboration between her Ministry, the Transport Ministry, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, and industry stakeholders.

The President of the Association of Ghana Industries, Kofi Nsiah-Poku, praised the Ministers for their swift engagement and consultative approach.

He noted that the proposed interim measures, together with the completion of dredging by June, could restore efficiency at the ports, reduce production costs, and potentially translate into lower prices for consumers.

The meeting ended with renewed commitments from all parties to protect the stability and competitiveness of Ghana’s cement industry, amid cautious optimism that the port congestion choking clinker imports will ease before mid-year.