Cement manufacturers in Ghana have warned of possible price increases as congestion at the nation’s ports continues to delay the discharge of clinker, a key raw material used in cement production.
The concerns were raised during an emergency meeting convened by the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, to address the growing backlog of clinker vessels waiting to berth. The Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, also participated in discussions aimed at finding immediate and long-term solutions.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers Ghana, George Dawson-Ahmoah, ships carrying clinker are being forced to wait between 13 and 20 days before docking. The delays, he said, are resulting in heavy demurrage charges that are significantly increasing operational costs for cement producers.
Industry players caution that if the situation persists, manufacturers may have no option but to pass the additional costs on to consumers, potentially driving up construction expenses nationwide.
Port authorities have attributed the congestion to limited berth capacity and ongoing dredging works intended to allow larger vessels to dock. The Transport Minister explained that once completed expected by the end of June the dredging project will expand the port’s capacity to handle vessels of up to 20,000 tonnes, compared to the current 8,000-tonne limit.
Partial relief is anticipated as work progresses around key berthing areas.
Cement producers have appealed for interim measures, including temporary access to alternative berths and permission to offload certain non-dust materials at other designated points to ease the pressure.
The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority has been engaged in discussions with stakeholders to streamline operations and reduce vessel turnaround times.
Meanwhile, the President of the Association of Ghana Industries, Kofi Nsiah-Poku, welcomed the government’s swift intervention, expressing hope that the combined short-term and structural measures would stabilize the situation and help avert price hikes.
Authorities maintain that addressing the logistical bottlenecks is critical not only to protecting consumers from rising cement prices but also to safeguarding broader industrial productivity and economic stability.