The deal, agreed between the Government of Ghana and jv company Meridian Port Services (MPS) - made up of APM Terminals, Bolloré Africa Logistics (aka Meridian Port Holdings), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) - includes the dredging of the port’s access channel as well as the aforementioned berths.
Further, a six-lane highway is to be constructed between the port at Tema and the interior port of Accra.
While throughput at MPS, which handles an 80% share of Tema’s cargo, was 670,000 teu in 2013, the expansion would increase annual capacity at the port to 3.5m teu. Since MPS began in 2007, $145m has been invested in the port, and the Ghanian Government proposed port upgrade and expansion program to improve rail and roadway connections and expand capacity.
"MPS is a very successful private/public partnership which has brought global trade to local shores,” said regional head of APM Terminals Africa-Middle East, Peder Sondergaard. “APM Terminals looks forward to take the next step to drive the development of a world class port expansion which can serve the country of Ghana in the coming decades.”
MPS chairman Alhaji Banda said: “I’m extremely proud to participate in this historic ceremony graced by His Excellency the President, to witness the signing of the MoU for the development of a new container terminal within the GPHA master plan for Tema Port.
“This indeed demonstrates the level of commitment that His Excellency has to the Tema Port Development, which acts as a real economic driver for the country and the sub-Saharan Region.”
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