Ghana’s container traffic for 2024 increased to 1,701,246 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) from 1,226,635 TEUs recorded in 2023.

Measured in TEUs, the increase represents a 27.8% uptick, highlighting a surge in the movement of standardized shipping containers and the goods carried at the country’s ports.

According to data from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Tema port recorded over 16 million, while the Takoradi port logged a little over 32,000 TEUs.

Although container traffic reduced from 1,562,000 TEUs in 2021 to 1,244,240 TEUs in 2022, it picked up marginally in 2023. 

1,056,780 TEUs was recorded in 2018. 2019 posted 1,048,370(TEUs), followed by 1,287,080(TEUs) in 2020.  The rest are

2021 – 1562000 TEUs

2022 – 1244240 TEUs

2023 – 1226635 TEUs

2024 - 1,701,246 TEUs

The acting Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Brigadier-General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono has revealed that efforts to scrap taxes on goods in transit are far advanced.

Goods in transit refers to merchandise and other types of inventories that have left the shipping dock of the seller, but not yet reached the receiving dock of the buyer.

Describing the move as a significant step towards easing the cost of doing business in Ghana’s ports, Brigadier-General Tanye-Kulono acknowledged the longstanding concerns raised by industry players regarding excessive levies and their impact on trade competitiveness. “We have certain taxes and levies imposed on goods and services that make the cost of doing business high,” he stated

In addition to tax reforms, Brigadier-General Tanye-Kulono highlighted GPHA’s commitment to digital transformation in reducing the turn-around of operations at the ports. He noted that the Authority will roll-out a digital platform from next year in this regard.