Mahama to Commission US$137m Project Shiprite at Takoradi Port

According to a report by 3News published on November 9, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama is expected to commission the US$137 million Project Shiprite, a major floating dock and ship-repair facility at the Port of Takoradi in the Western Region.

The project is designed to position Ghana as a major maritime services hub in the Gulf of Guinea by providing facilities for the repair, maintenance and dry-docking of commercial vessels operating within the region.

Project Shiprite is being developed by Prime Meridian Docks Ghana Limited (PMD) in partnership with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) under a 25-year concession agreement.

The project received a major financing boost in June 2026 after the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) joined the investor consortium, providing US$9.7 million through its investment arm, InfraCo, to close the remaining funding gap and enable the project to proceed towards construction.

Other financing partners include the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank, ARM-Harith Infrastructure Fund, Petra Pension Schemes and Origen Private Debt Fund.

When completed, the facility will be capable of servicing vessels measuring up to 200 metres in length. It will provide commercial-scale ship repairs, mandatory dry-docking services and other maritime maintenance solutions.

Currently, vessels operating in the Gulf of Guinea often have to travel between 10 and 14 days to ship-repair facilities in Walvis Bay, Namibia, or Las Palmas, Spain, for similar services.

The establishment of the Takoradi facility is expected to reduce these long journeys, lower fuel consumption and operating costs, minimise vessel downtime and retain more foreign exchange within the region.

The project is also expected to create up to 430 direct jobs, with approximately 30 per cent of the positions projected to go to women.

Beyond conventional ship repairs, the facility is expected to support vessel retrofitting and energy-efficiency improvements as the global maritime industry moves towards reducing carbon emissions.

Government officials and project partners have described the initiative as an important investment in Ghana’s maritime infrastructure, with the potential to attract more shipping-related businesses and strengthen the country’s position in regional trade and logistics.

The commissioning of Project Shiprite is expected to mark an important milestone in efforts to expand Takoradi Port’s capacity and develop Ghana into a regional centre for ship maintenance and repair.

GreatNews_3 feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com