Cement manufacturers in Ghana have cautioned that ongoing congestion at the country’s main harbour could trigger an increase in cement prices if urgent interventions are not implemented.

The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, convened a high level meeting on February 23, 2026, with cement producers and port authorities to address delays that have left clinker shipments stranded at sea. The engagement was held in collaboration with the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe.

Discussions centred on persistent operational challenges at the port, where vessels transporting clinker, a key ingredient in cement production, have reportedly been waiting between 13 and 20 days to berth. Industry stakeholders indicated that discharge delays now stretch between two and three weeks, leading to significant demurrage charges.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers Ghana, George Dawson-Ahmoah, the financial strain on producers has reached critical levels. He described the situation as unsustainable, noting that companies are absorbing escalating costs due to prolonged vessel turnaround times.

Manufacturers acknowledged that dredging works are currently underway to expand port capacity but appealed for temporary relief. Among the proposals were access to additional berths and approval to offload non dust generating materials such as gypsum and slag at alternative locations to ease pressure on the main berths.

Responding to the concerns, the Transport Minister explained that existing infrastructure cannot accommodate larger vessels, resulting in extended queues. He said ongoing dredging works, expected to be completed by the end of June, will increase the port’s handling capacity from ships of about 8,000 tonnes to those exceeding 20,000 tonnes. Portions of the project, particularly around Berth 14, are projected to be completed within the next two weeks to provide partial relief.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare stressed that the government’s intervention goes beyond preventing price hikes. She said the broader objective is to eliminate inefficiencies that inflate production costs, warning that even a single day of delay can result in substantial financial losses for businesses.

She assured stakeholders of her ministry’s commitment to swift action and expressed optimism that improvements would become evident within a fortnight. The meeting also reaffirmed continued collaboration between the relevant ministries, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and industry representatives.

The President of the Association of Ghana Industries, Kofi Nsiah-Poku, commended the ministers for their prompt response and cooperative engagement. He expressed hope that interim measures, coupled with the completion of dredging works, would restore efficiency and stabilise production costs, potentially preventing the transfer of additional expenses to consumers.

Stakeholders concluded the meeting with renewed assurances to protect the competitiveness of Ghana’s cement sector as efforts intensify to resolve the congestion before mid year.