Ghana Railway Development Authority ramps up rail haulage to ease Tema Port congestion

This exercise will be done in partnership with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and private operators.

The move is also in response to concerns from importers, exporters, and freight forwarders about persistent congestion at the country’s busiest port.

The GRDA has in furtherance of this mission signed an off-taker agreement with Integrated Services Solution for container haulage and is now relocating both empty and laden containers to inland facilities such as the KUT (Kumasi Unity Terminal).

Speaking after the signing of the agreement, GRDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Frederick Appoh said the Authority is currently moving about 220 containers per day from the ports and plans to increase volumes further.

“We are working with our sister company, GPHA, on the container issue,” Appoh stated.

“What we are doing is that we are moving all the empty containers from the port straight to KUT. Once you’ve done that, we will then start moving. This week, we are moving the laden boxes away to KUT so that if you’re coming from Burkina, you don’t come to Tema. You go to KUT, Unity terminal, to go and move your stuff,” he said.

He explained that the operation also involves returning containers from KUT to Tema on a just-in-time basis to avoid unnecessary stockpiling and long-distance trucking.

“We are also gradually bringing containers from KUT to Tema Harbour as and when they need it. We call it just-in-time shipping. So, you are not going to have containers parked there and trucks going all the way to Kumasi,” Appoh said.

The CEO noted that GRDA maintains close coordination with GPHA through daily and weekly planning meetings.

He also encouraged operators at Takoradi Port to increase the flow of containers for rail movement.

Appoh dismissed earlier opposition claims that investments in locomotives had yielded little result, stating that the equipment is now actively supporting the decongestion drive.

Looking ahead, he indicated that connecting the railway line directly to KUT remains a priority project in the pipeline.

“Bigger pictures are coming. We are working collaboratively with KUT, and I’m confident that in the coming months or so, we are even going to look at connecting the railway to KUT,” he added.

The joint initiative is expected to reduce truck traffic around Tema Port, lower logistics costs for traders, and improve turnaround times for cargo destined for inland Ghana and neighbouring landlocked countries.