Tema Port congestion drives cement price surcharges in Ghana

Congestion and operational delays at Ghana’s Tema Port are driving up costs for various sectors, most notably in construction. The Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG) has introduced a temporary GH¢12 surcharge per bag of cement to offset escalating demurrage costs. COCMAG reports that vessel waiting times for clinker imports have increased from seven days in early 2026 to over 30 or 40 days in August, resulting in industry-wide demurrage costs estimated between US$45 million and US$50 million during the first eight months of the year.

The Ghana Shippers’ Authority noted that cargo volumes have reached approximately 2.5 million TEUs, a significant increase from 700,000 TEUs in 2020. While terminal expansion has strengthened Ghana’s position as a transshipment hub, supporting infrastructure such as roads and inland depots has not kept pace.

Additionally, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Ghana has warned that prolonged port inspection procedures act as an ‘invisible tax’ on trade. ICC Ghana is calling for better coordination among inspection agencies and the promotion of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme to expedite the clearance of goods for compliant businesses and reduce overall congestion.