Tema Port is in Ghana, West Africa. Its UN/LOCODE is GHTEM, and it is the country’s largest port, about 25 km east of Accra in the Greater Accra Region.
This guide covers what ship operators, agents and shippers need at Tema: berths and terminals, arrival rules, cargo clearance and the port’s history. For both of Ghana’s commercial ports side by side, see the major ports in Ghana.
Tema Port at a Glance
Tema handles about 98% of Ghana’s container traffic and most of its general cargo, vehicle and liquid bulk imports. The table gives the particulars an agent or master checks first.
| Item | Tema Port |
|---|---|
| Country | Ghana (Greater Accra Region) |
| UN/LOCODE | GHTEM |
| Operator | Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA); Terminal 3 run by Meridian Port Services (MPS) |
| Opened | 1962 (construction began 1954) |
| Land area | About 3.9 million m² |
| Berths | 16 multipurpose berths (Terminals 1 and 2), Oil Berth, Valco Berth, 4 container berths at Terminal 3 |
| Largest ships | 366 m LOA and 16 m draught at Terminal 3; Oil Berth 244 m LOA, 9.7 m draught |
| Containers (2024) | 1,668,688 TEU |
| Port working hours | 07:30–19:30 GMT, seven days a week; extra shifts on request |
| VHF | Channels 14 and 16, 24-hour watch |
| Time zone | GMT all year (no daylight saving) |
Sources: GPHA navigation and general information pages; MPS (March 2025); GPHA container figures for 2024. The TEU figure covers the whole port.
Where Is Tema Port?
Tema Port is on Ghana’s eastern coast, in the city of Tema, about 25 km east of central Accra. It sits on the Greenwich Meridian (0° longitude), which a monument at the port marks.
The Tema Motorway links the port to Accra. The 97.7 km Tema–Mpakadan standard-gauge railway, commissioned in November 2024, runs from a station at the port toward the Volta Lake inland port at Mpakadan.
By May 2025 the railway had not started commercial service because of theft and vandalism damage. The Ghana Railway Development Authority targeted mid-2026 for full operations.
What Terminals and Berths Does Tema Port Have?
Tema has three terminal areas. Terminals 1 and 2 hold 16 multipurpose berths, and Terminal 3 is a deep-water container terminal. The Oil Berth and Valco Berth serve liquid bulk and the aluminium smelter.
Terminal 3 (MPS Container Terminal)
Terminal 3 opened in June 2019. Meridian Port Services runs it as a joint venture of GPHA (30%), APM Terminals (35%) and Africa Global Logistics (35%). Its four berths take container ships up to 366 m long.
MPS completed maintenance dredging in March 2025, restoring all four berths to 16.9 m below chart datum. Ships with a 16 m draught can now use every berth, after an earlier 12.5 m limit on Berth 20 was lifted.
Phase 2 of the expansion added a 400 m fourth berth, commissioned in October 2021, and is bringing in electric yard cranes. MPS targets about 3 million TEU of capacity.
Terminals 1 and 2 (Multipurpose)
The older terminals handle break-bulk, steel, bagged cargo, ro-ro vehicle imports and some containers. Draughts range from 8.2 m at the inner berths up to the deeper outer berths.
What Must a Ship Do Before Arriving at Tema?
The ship’s agent books the berth online through GPHA’s Unity portal and gives 72 hours’ notice of the declared ETA. Notices are due by 14:30 GMT Monday to Thursday, and before 10:00 GMT on Friday for weekend working.
- Agent: a local ship agent files the pre-arrival notice and berth request and confirms the ETA.
- Port Control: call on VHF Channel 14 within about 20–30 nm to confirm the ETA. Channel 16 is the distress and calling channel.
- Anchorage: zoned by ship type, in depths of 6 to 54 m. Ships waiting for a berth must notify Tema Port Control first.
- Pilotage: request one hour ahead on Channel 14. It runs 24 hours, except at the Oil and Valco berths (06:00–18:00).
- Towage: compulsory inside the harbour. GPHA lists five tugs, three of 60 t and two of 80 t bollard pull.
Berthing and unberthing then follow the pilot’s plan; see berthing and unberthing of a ship for the general sequence.
Tema offers bunkering 24 hours a day, alongside, at anchor or offshore. The port is closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday, when ships are handled only in emergencies.
How Is Cargo Cleared Through Tema Port?
Imports are cleared by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Division through a licensed customs broker. Shipping lines, the terminal and the port authority each release the cargo once duties and charges are paid.
- Documents: bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list and any permits for regulated goods.
- Charges: terminal handling, storage and GPHA charges sit alongside customs duty; see port costs, dues and fees.
- Free time: containers kept beyond the line’s free days attract detention and demurrage.
- Vehicles: Ghana has banned imports of salvaged (accident-damaged) vehicles since November 2020. Check current GRA rules on vehicle age before shipping a used car.
What Is the History of Tema Port?
Construction began in 1954, designed by Sir William Halcrow and Partners. The original plan had two breakwaters enclosing about 500 acres of water, with twelve berths, transit sheds and cocoa sheds.
The first cargo ship, the Oti River, berthed in 1958, and regular traffic began after commissioning in 1962. Tema’s first tanker call, the Avacus with 17,500 tonnes of crude, came on 18 June 1963.
Tema was built under Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, as the country’s second deep-water port after Takoradi.
What Challenges Does Tema Port Face?
Tema’s main pressures are congestion, the slow start of rail freight and competition from Lomé and Abidjan for Sahel transit cargo.
- Congestion: truck traffic and container dwell time slow cargo movement in and out of the port.
- Rail: the Tema–Mpakadan line was built to move containers inland but had not started commercial service by mid-2025.
- Transit competition: Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger can route cargo through Lomé or Abidjan as well as Tema.
Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
Tema Port is in which country?
Tema Port is in Ghana, West Africa. It lies in the city of Tema, about 25 km east of Accra in the Greater Accra Region, and it is Ghana’s largest port.
What is the port code for Tema?
Tema’s UN/LOCODE is GHTEM. GH is the country code for Ghana and TEM identifies Tema. Shipping lines and forwarders use it on bookings and bills of lading.
Who operates Tema Port?
The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) owns and runs Tema Port. Terminal 3, the container terminal, is operated by Meridian Port Services, a joint venture of GPHA, APM Terminals and Africa Global Logistics.
Does Tema Port work on weekends?
Yes. Tema works seven days a week, all year, with main hours of 07:30–19:30 GMT and extra shifts on request. It closes on Christmas Day and Good Friday, when ships are handled only in emergencies.
How big a ship can Tema Port take?
Terminal 3 takes container ships up to 366 m long with a 16 m draught at all four berths. The Oil Berth takes ships up to 244 m long and 9.7 m draught.
How many berths does Tema Port have?
Tema has 16 multipurpose berths in Terminals 1 and 2, the Oil Berth and Valco Berth, and four container berths at Terminal 3. GPHA’s own listing still counts three berths at Terminal 3.
When was Tema Port built?
Construction began in 1954 to a design by Sir William Halcrow and Partners. The first cargo ship berthed in 1958, and the port was commissioned in 1962.
Is Tema Port the same as Accra port?
Accra has no deep-sea port, so cargo for Accra moves through Tema, about 25 km to the east. Accra’s Jamestown harbour is a fishing harbour only.
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