- Tema and Takoradi ports ranked 376th and 274th globally in 2023 CPPI.
- Both ports fell in ranking from 2022, Tema by 171 places and Takoradi by 29.
- Poor performance hinders Ghana's trade efficiency and economic growth.
- Investing in infrastructure and technology can improve port performance.
The latest Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) report for 2023 has raised concerns about the performance of Ghana’s major ports, Tema and Takoradi. Tema Port has been ranked 376th out of 405 ports globally, while Takoradi Port has been ranked 274th.
This represents a decline from their standings in the 2022 edition of the report, where Tema Port was ranked 205th and Takoradi Port was ranked 245th out of 348 ports. The low rankings of Tema and Takoradi Ports underscore the urgent need for improvements in port infrastructure and operations to enhance Ghana’s trade efficiency and economic growth.
The CPPI report is compiled by a team from the World Bank and the Maritime, Trade, and Supply Chain division of S&P Global Market Intelligence. It aims to serve as a reference point for improvement for key stakeholders in the global economy.
The top-ranked container ports in the CPPI 2023 include Yangshan Port (China) in first place, followed by the Port of Salalah (Oman) in second place, and the port of Cartagena in third place.
Tanjung Pelepas improved one position to 5th, Ningbo moved up from 12th in 2022 to 7th in 2023, and Port Said moved from 16th to 10th in 2023. However, Khalifa port fell from 3rd position in 2022 to 29th position in CPPI 2023, and Hamad Port fell from 8th in 2022 to 11th in 2023.
The poor performance of Tema and Takoradi Ports highlights areas where improvements can boost the port’s capacity and efficiency, ensuring it can better serve the growing demands of global trade.
Efforts to enhance port performance could involve investing in modern infrastructure, streamlining operational processes, and adopting advanced technologies to improve cargo handling and clearance times.
By addressing these issues, Tema and potentially Takoradi ports could significantly improve their standings in future CPPI reports, thereby boosting Ghana’s position in the global maritime industry.
The report serves as a call to action for key stakeholders, including national governments, port authorities and operators, development agencies, supranational organizations, and various maritime interests, to work together to improve port performance and enhance global trade efficiency.
